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The smiles never wander far from his engaging personality, but the touchdowns have barely outnumbered his knee surgeries -- 5-2. He was supposed to be the speedster, the shifty tailback who could make linebackers miss, then outrun safeties. Maybe it was bad timing or bad luck, but it never worked out that way.
''It hasn't gone like I thought it would,'' Hall conceded this week. ''I came here wanting to be like everybody else. It hasn't worked out like that, but that's all right. I've made a couple big plays in my career. I'm still ready to make more.''
He was pinned behind Jonathan Wells and Lydell Ross as a freshman, and then the Maurice Clarett Show made a brief stop his second year. That kept Hall third-string until last year, when bad knees stripped away any chance of becoming the back he was expected to be as a highly touted recruit at Brookhaven High School in Columbus.
Hall started the first three games last year, when Clarett's future was still questionable and Ross was recovering from a pulled muscle in his leg. But his knees continued to deteriorate, limiting him to kickoff returns and not much else.
That brings us to Saturday, where he'll likely set the record for kickoff return yards in a career. He enters the game with 1,405, five behind Ken-Yon Rambo's record.
''During his career, it's not like he's played on a team that had a defense that was scored on tons and was kicked to that often,'' coach Jim Tressel said.
The record is no doubt impressive, a symbol of quality and longevity. But it's not quite the same as being a starting tailback at The Ohio State University for three years, which was his goal upon arriving.
Ask Hall what he'd rather have, the record or three years as a starting tailback, he smiles and pleads the fifth.
''It's hard to say,'' he said. ''If I was a starting tailback for two or three years, I'd probably also have some records. I'm just glad that I'll be able to get that kickoff return record.''
Then he flashes that patented smile again. He'd probably like more, but he'll take what he can get.
New and improved
That goes for both his knees and Ohio State's kickoff return team. Surgery on both knees after last season, combined with the yoga he has since passed on to the rest of the team, has made Hall's knees about as healthy as can be expected.
The addition of wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell, who has worked extensively with the return teams, has given the Buckeyes a weapon they previously lacked.
Where the return teams were never really feared before, already Ohio State has returned two punts for touchdowns and Hall is averaging over 26 yards per kickoff return. That can mean the difference in starting a drive at the 20 or the 35.
''Coach Hazell came here knowing a little bit about kickoff returns,'' Hall said. ''He really shows he's focused on the kickoff return team and that makes people want to work harder running and blocking. I don't think we're doing too many things different, maybe running different schemes, but the return team blocks for you, then you see a hole and burst through it.''
It hasn't quite been that easy coming out of the backfield.
He had his best season in 2002, rushing for 370 yards and four touchdowns, including the biggest of his career against Michigan. Perhaps more than the record he's about to set, Hall will be remembered for catching an option pitch from Craig Krenzel and sprinting into the end zone, ensuring Ohio State's place in the national championship game.
Ross' suspension has again opened a place in the backfield, although this year the tailbacks look more like sparring partners -- jump in, take a few beatings and get out.
Being the senior, he started last week's game against Indiana before quickly giving way to freshman Antonio Pittman. Now Pittman is listed as the starter and Hall the backup.
A senior backing up a freshman never really feels good, but Hall takes it as well as can be expected. He's still smiling, still willing to show Pittman how to run in the Big Ten.
Pittman is the future of Ohio State; Hall is the past that never really was.
''I'll definitely try and help him out,'' Hall said. ''Tony is a good player and will be a good player in the future. At the same time, I want to take advantage of my opportunities.''
jlloyd@morningjournal.com
