I don’t know if Korey Hall is a Styx fan but he is
the prototypical “Blue Collar Man”.
Today, the likeable and hard-working Glenns Ferry product was chosen by
the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the National Football League Draft.
Hall became the third Bronco to be selected
in this year’s draft of the top college football talent in the nation and the
second Boise State great to be chosen by the Green Bay Packers. Gerald Alexander and Legedu Naanee were
already scooped up this weekend as tremendous bargains by the Detroit Lions and
San Diego Chargers, respectively. Boise State offensive lineman Daryn Colledge was drafted in the second round last
year by the Packers and is already starting for the Pack. Colledge was named to the NFL’s All-Rookie team
after his first season.
Hall earned second-team All-America honors by
The Sporting News following a great season that saw Hall and the Broncos finish
the year as the nation’s only undefeated team and capture the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
Championship. He was a quarterfinalist
for the Lott Trophy, the first Bronco ever to be so recognized. Hall was an All-WAC selection this
year. Korey was named All-Western
Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year following his senior year and was a three-time All-WAC selection.
Hall finished his stellar Bronco career as
the #2 tackler in the history of the WAC and fourth in Boise State history with 388, most of them the bone-crunching variety. Hall finished behind only Scott Russell
(1987-1990), Carl Keever (1982-1984) and Quintin Mikell (1999-2003). Hall also ranks 12th in the Bronco
record book in tackles for loss with 27.5
Hall began the year on the preseason
All-America list and watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Bronko
Nagurski Trophy and the Lott Trophy.
Korey lived up to the attention by ending his senior campaign with 105
tackles, including 6.5 for loss, with 3.5 sacks and six interceptions, one pass
breakup and one fumble recovery. There
was no bigger pass breakup than Korey’s deflection in the Fiesta Bowl that
ended up in a Marty Tadman touchdown. He
led not only Boise State but all linebackers in the country in interceptions and led the nation’s
linebackers in career interceptions.
Korey was one of the key ingredients in Boise State’s thrilling 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma of the Big 12 Conference in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
Korey’s junior season was spectacular as
well, leading Boise State with a career-high 106 tackles, 5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions
and three pass breakups. He was a
preseason honorable mention All-America and was named to Watch Lists for the
Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik
Award. Hall and the Broncos were invited
to the MPC Computers Bowl in December against Boston College of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In his sophomore season, Korey was second on
the team with 85 tackles, including a team-leading 8.5 for loss. He also was credited with two sacks and three
interceptions. Hall was 12th
in the WAC in tackles. He will be remembered
forever in Bronco lore for many reasons, not the least of which is his
spectacular catch of a twice-tipped ball and monumental run into the end zone
against Oregon State. Hall and the Broncos went
undefeated during the regular season and were invited to the 2004 Liberty Bowl
to play Louisville.
Hall was one of few Broncos to start in their
freshman season, earning honorable mention All-WAC after making
92 tackles at his middle linebacker position.
Hall wreaked havoc on the opposition with 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5
sacks. He helped the Broncos win the
2003 Forth Worth Bowl with a 34-31 win over TCU.
Bronco fans are fortunate to have been able
to see you Korey—we wish you nothing but the best!