A second-round selection from Auburn in the 2023 NFL Draft, linebacker Derick Hall had no sacks and no starts as a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks. In his second season, Hall started 14 games and recorded eight sacks.
During the offseason, the Seahawks signed a player who could take Hall’s starting spot as the rush linebacker in Seattle’s starting lineup. But Hall already has found his time as a teammate of DeMarcus Lawrence beneficial.
Lawrence joined the Seahawks in March after 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, during which he recorded 61.5 sacks and received four Pro Bowl invitations.
“The first question I asked him, ‘Do you have a little brother?’” Hall told Seattle’s official website. “And he was like, ‘Nah.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, now I see why you act with me the way you act. I’m like the little brother you never had.’ …
“It’s great to have a guy like that in the building who’s been seasoned, playing in this league a long time, had a lot of success. I’m happy to have him. He teaches me a lot. I’m learning a lot about the way he plays. I feel like our playing style is kind of similar, so being able to have that is huge.”
Hall isn’t the only one who sees similarities between him and Lawrence.
“Their playing styles are similar, and also they’re crazy as hell,” Seahawks defensive tackle and former Alabama standout Jarran Reed said. “… I see a lot of D-Law in Derick. That’s kudos to him. He’s going to be a great player. The sky’s the limit for him. I think D-Law’s the best thing that could have happened to him because mentality-wise, I think they’re the same. And football-wise, I think they’re the same. Them playing with each other, that’s the perfect kind of mental to have there is to have D-Law right there. And them two together on the field is going to be nasty."
Hall became the second Seattle player to record at least eight sacks in his second NFL season after having none as a rookie. Rufus Porter went from zero in 1988 to 10.5 in 1989, when he earned Pro Bowl recognition.
Hall’s third NFL season will kick off against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 7.
“Everything he does is very intentional,” Hall said of Lawrence. “Coming into Year 1, you’re just trying to do everything right. Year 2, you’re starting to pick it up a little bit. Now, this is the time you start honing in on the details and the small things. It’s like perfect timing the way he came in and the way he goes about his business. It’s second to none.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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