If you’re having a conversation for the top running back in the 2022 NFL draft, the odds are strong that your conversation starts with Iowa State’s Breece Hall.
A two-time All-American and a two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Hall leaves the Cyclones as one of the program’s most accomplished players. After asserting himself as dominant running back at the collegiate level, he looks to carry on his success in the pros.
Draft Wire had the chance to speak exclusively with Hall about his Combine performance, what makes him RB1, helping transform the Iowa State program, and more.
JI: You had the chance to go down to the Combine, and you crushed it. How do you feel about your performance, and what was it like to be able to go down to Indy for the week?
BH: When we got to the Combine, people told me it was gonna be a lot, but I didn’t realize that until I was going through it. It’s really tiring and everything, but you’re doing all of that just to get that last day to do all the drills and testing and stuff like that. That experience was…it was different. I would say that. It wasn’t terrible, but I wouldn’t say it was the funnest thing in the world.
But I definitely had a lot of fun doing it, just being around some of those guys. I’ve built some different relationships. As far as the testing and stuff, I really wasn’t surprised about that, because I knew what I could do. I knew what I was expecting to do, and so when people found out that I had a 4.39 40, they were like, “Oh, I didn’t know he was as fast.” A lot of coaches thought I was gonna run like sub-4.5s or higher 4.4 in those meetings. I’m like, “Alright, alright, now when I run this 4.3, they’re gonna be surprised.” There was nothing I was really surprised by.
JI: Coming off of such an accomplished collegiate career, what would you say was the best moment during your time at Iowa State?
BH: I’d say probably just my whole sophomore [and] junior years, just getting Iowa State to that respected level. It really started my sophomore year once we beat Oklahoma, and everybody started to recognize us, and then making it to the Big-12 [championship] playing Oklahoma again. Unfortunately, we fell short, but just that whole experience, just getting Iowa State to be a respected school. Coming in and being a piece of the puzzle to help them be good, it was a real fun experience.
JI: Iowa State’s definitely seen a resurgence as a football program in recent years. How would you say Coach Campbell and the rest of the staff have prepared you for the next level?
BH: Since the day I got there, they have the highest expectations of me. Coach Campbell, he might not say, but his favorite position is running back. So just from the day I got there, he was pushing me to be the best he knew I could be. In my time there, I was always expected to [play well]. I knew I was the best player on the team, so I was expected to be that same guy, day in and day out, on and off the field, be a great person and a great leader and a great football player. I feel like that made me a better person and player.
JI: This is a pretty talented running back class, but most people have you in that top spot. Give me your RB1 pitch: What makes you the best back in this draft?
BH: Because nobody can do what I can with the ball in my hands.
JI: Which running backs have you grown up idolizing?
BH: So when I first started playing football, I was a quarterback, so I wasn’t even really idolizing running backs or anything like that. I was born into college football, so it was watching the Cam Newtons, Johnny Manziels, Tim Tebows, Marcus Mariotas, Braxton Millers. Those type of guys that come around, run and throw the ball and that made those big impact plays in games.
JI: How do you like to spend your free time outside of football?
BH: I’m honestly kind of lame outside of football [laughs]. I don’t like to do too much, [I’m] laid back. I like to play video games, be around the guys, just do those childish things, go play mini golf, just simple stuff like that. I don’t like to do too much.
JI: How good would you say you are at mini golf?
BH: Elite.
JI: Let’s say I’m an NFL general manager. What would I be getting if I drafted you to my team?
BH: A three-down back, a guy who’s willing to come in to learn and learn his role in the team, a guy who impacts the team and community on and off the field, and just a great person overall.
