Ex-Clemson guard Rod Hall switches to football, commits to Northern Iowa

After spending the past four years representing the Tigers on the hardcourt, former Clemson guard Rod Hall is heading west to try his hand at football.

Hall has committed to play one year of football at Northern Iowa, where he'll be vying to win a starting position at wide receiver.

"I kind of just talked to the players and the coaches, and it just felt like it was going to be a good fit," he said, according to Mandrallius Robinson of the Greenville News.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder earned All-State honors in both sports as a high school senior in Augusta, Ga.

Despite failing to play football competitively for the last four seasons, Hall reportedly received calls earlier this spring from three NFL scouts, who had watched a YouTube clip of his high school highlights. When asked whether he'd be interested in a private workout, Hall consented and auditioned for six NFL teams in April at Clemson's indoor practice facility.

Hall did not receive an agreeable free-agent offer after the NFL draft this past May, although he impressed scouts with his deft hands and ferocious speed - he reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds.

So, he elected to return to college for one year to improve his football skills, deciding on Northern Iowa after visiting its facilities earlier this week.

"I just know I have a good chance to get in and play as soon as I get there," Hall said. "They are switching the offense to more of a no-huddle, and I know I can pick up on things easily."

He was so impressed with his visit to Northern Iowa that he immediately canceled any additional trips he had scheduled at other schools.