As a former World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion in 2017, there’s little doubt that Eddie Hall possesses the requisite strength and power needed to thrive as an American football player. The strongman legend recently decided to place a few of his other skills to the test in a direct application.
On Oct. 23, 2022, Hall posted a video to his YouTube channel where he tried several drills featured within the National Football League’s (NFL) annual Scouting Mix that test the athletic aptitude of incoming rookie players. Going a bit bit out of his comfort zone seemed fun for Hall to check out his overall athletic talents in an unfamiliar environment.
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To make sure he would conduct every drill appropriately, Hall had former long-time NFL veteran Jack Crawford and rugby/former NFL player Christian Scotland-Williamson readily available to assist. The combine-style workout took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, UK. (Note: The stadium is one in every of the few venues by which the NFL sometimes plays regular season games, with one other notable location being Wembley Stadium, also in London.)
After maintaining that he “can’t catch, can’t throw, and may’t run” but can probably “mow people down,” Hall padded himself in equipment and set to work.
The primary drill saw Hall test his agility within the 20-yard shuttle to see how he modified direction. The drill has an athlete start in between a 10-yard margin. While pivoting, they run five yards to both sides before a final 10-yard sprint. Hall notched a time of 5.15 seconds. For somebody of his 300-plus-pound size, such a time compares to NFL offensive linemen. For instance, Houston Texans offensive guard and 2022 NFL draft selection Kenyon Green accomplished his official shuttle run in 5.12 seconds, per the NFL database.
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Hall followed the shuttle run with the broad jump — where the athlete tests their forward-leaping ability. Hall managed to notch a distance of 6.5 feet (or 78 inches). This compared less favorably to NFL offensive linemen, as someone just like the Los Angeles Chargers’ Zion Johnson broad-jumped 9.3 feet (or 112 inches) in March 2022’s edition of the particular Mix, in keeping with Pro Football Reference. (Note: Hall accomplished his broad jump in shoulder pads and protective knee wear, potentially limiting his mobility. Whereas NFL athletes complete their tests in shorts and shirts.)
Hall finally tried his hand on the famed 40-yard dash to shut this short mock NFL mix. An easy ask, all he needed to do was run 40 yards in a straight line as fast as possible. He finished with a time of 5.73 seconds. Considering his lack of experience, that point could be solid. Though, again, mobility issues aside, that point doesn’t compare well with young skilled offensive linemen, as someone like Johnson had a 40-yard dash of 5.18 seconds. On this drill, greater than half a second is a major difference.
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With this Mix mock-up within the rearview mirror, Hall is preparing for his strongman comeback. After retirement in 2017, he’ll return as captain of Team UK on the 2022 Giants Live World Nation on Nov. 26, 2022, on the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. Hall may need been a successful American football player in a special world.
On this reality, strongman is his calling, and it must be fascinating to see how he fares in what is going to likely be a highly-anticipated return.
Featured image: @eddiehallwsm on Instagram