At St. Augustine's, Alex Hall collected nearly 25 sacks in his final two seasons and scored this touchdown against Johnson C. Smith. Not bad for a guy barely recruited in high school:

"I'll always thank and remember St. Aug. Coach Costa," Hall says. "This school gave me a chance, and I'll be grateful for that always."

His play at St. Augustine's got him noticed by the NFL, and Hall will never forget the moment when he was drafted:

"I was watching a basketball game, an NBA playoff game, and the phone rings," Hall recalls. "It was the Browns saying they were going to draft me. They said to watch the TV."

Alex Hall is not the first St. Augustine's alum to be drafted. Ike Lassiter and Herman Reed both played in the NFL in the '60s. But Hall is the first to make the NFL since St. Aug reinstated football several years ago.

"It's great. I'm so happy to be part of this tradition," Hall says proudly. "I just want to go and represent the school well."

Hall has already met with the Cleveland Browns' brass and taken part in the club's first mini-camp. The Browns want him to switch from defensive end to outside linebacker, so the drills definitely got his attention:

"The main thing is the mental stuff," Hall says. Learning the plays and the techniques ... knowing where you're supposed to be at."

He joins a team that gave up too many touchdowns to suit its defensive-minded coach, Romeo Crennel. Hall believes he can help.

"Pass rush. Good person. Good personality. I think I'll be a great fit," Hall says confidently.

But first, he'll receive his college diploma.

Graduation and the NFL.

According to Alex Hall, it's already been a great year.