The San Francisco 49ers' defensive line is led by a former Ohio State Buckeye in star edge rusher Nick Bosa.
Last season, the 49ers had another Ohio State alumnus in Chase Young at the trade deadline. Young has since moved on, but the 49ers are showing interest in acquiring another player to have come off the production line in Columbus to their D-Line in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The 49ers, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, have held a top-30 visit with interior defensive linemen Michael Hall Jr.
Hall is seen as a likely day-two pick and enjoyed an impressive season as a pass rusher in 2023.
Indeed, his pass rush win rate of 18.3% was second only two likely first-round pick Byron Murphy among interior defensive linemen with at least 100 pass rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
He was not quite as strong against the run, at least statistically, but was still credited with 13 run stops by PFF.
Hall plays with excellent low pad level and leverage against the run, consistently holding his ground at the point of attack and showing great vision to the football while also relying on the hand usage that is a defining feature of his play as a pass rusher.
The club-swim, two-hand swipe and arm-over are all part of Hall's pass-rushing repertoire, his hand usage married with clever footwork to help him consistently create disruption.
San Francisco does not possess a great deal of compelling options behind defensive tackle starters Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins, so the 49ers spending a high pick on the position would make sense. Oregon defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus, another interior player likely to go on day two, is also on their list of 30 visits.
Still only 20, Hall has the skill set and the time on his side to emulate fellow former Buckeye Bosa and become a mainstay on the 49er defensive line for many years to come. Of course, him doing so relies on the Niners translating their obvious interest in Hall's services into a draft selection.
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