Posted on 07/15/2006 10:37:57 AM PDT by WestTexasWend
-Fullback to join QB Young other Texas exes in Tennessee-
The road to the NFL can be longer for some than others. On Friday, Ahmard Hall's road became a little shorter.
The Tennessee Titans signed the 26-year-old Hall, a rookie free-agent fullback, to a two-year deal at the league's minimum salary. With the Titans, Hall will be reunited with former Texas Longhorns teammate Vince Young, who was picked No. 3 overall by Tennessee in the 2006 draft .
"I'm definitely looking forward to playing with Vince again," Hall said. "Hopefully, I can get in contact with him and get familiar with the playbook so I can come in and hit the ground running."
Hall said he chose the Titans over Minnesota, Green Bay, Seattle and the New York Giants because of his chances at earning a spot on the team.
Tennessee already has fullback Troy Fleming, a two-year veteran, on its training camp roster, but Hall said he wanted to go to a team that he thought actually could use him.
"(Tennessee) told me I would be competing for the job," Hall said. "They know what kind of guy I am so they are expecting me to come in and work hard. Everyone around me is excited, but I know I still have a lot to accomplish."
The man dubbed "Big Marine" by his friend Young credits his accomplishments to his experiences in boot camp and his service in the war in Afghanistan.
"Boot camp really opened my eyes to everything," Hall said. "The first couple of days you don't get any sleep, so you kind of have to grow up in a hurry. I learned to respect my mom more and do all of the little things that mattered."
After going overseas to fight in Kosovo and Afghanistan, Hall's life changed even more dramatically.
He said he remembers times when he and his troops did not know if they would ever come back to the United States.
"They just told us to be prepared to stay," Hall said. "It really hits you that you could very well not come back home."
Once Hall finished his tour of active duty as a Marine sergeant in 2003, he enrolled at Texas and joined the football team as a walk-on. He was awarded a scholarship before this past season, and received the Big 12 Conference's male sportsman of the year award in 2005.
During his Longhorns career, Hall registered only two carries for 11 yards and one touchdown. He also made three receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown. He accumulated 12 tackles on special teams.
Beside Young, Hall will rejoin former teammates Bo Scaife and Sloan Thomas at the Titans' camp.
"We'll always be connected through Texas," Hall said. "I want to try to make it up there before the 27th (of July). It would be nice to get out there and catch a couple of passes and learn a little before going into camp."
The Titans will open training camp on July 28 in Clarksville, Tenn.
A real hero is joining a group of pseudo heroes, so dubbed by sports fans. Good luck, Sgt. Hall.
NFL ping fodder.
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