Commodores land talented cornerback

Port Allen, La. cornerback Andre Hal has been a hot prospect this spring and summer, picking up numerous offers from a diverse group of programs. One of Hal's biggest offers to come during the spring was from Vanderbilt and while visiting the Vanderbilt campus on Thursday, Hal made a big decision.

"I committed to Vanderbilt," Hal said on Thursday night. "I'm in Tennessee right now. They had a little barbeque up here and we came with me, my mom and my sister."

The barbeque was an event targeted at some of Vanderbilt's top prospects. At 6-foot-0 with great playmaking ability, Hal fits that bill and saw that the Commodores have plenty to offer as well.

"I was just impressed with the school," he said. "I thought Vandy was a smaller school but it wasn't. It was all pretty good. When I came up here I thought I was just going to look around and wasn't going to commit. They said they were going to take five DBs and were going to fill up quick so I knew this was the school I wanted to go to so I figured why wait?"

Though he didn't come to Nashville expecting to commit to the Commodores, Hal's time on the Vanderbilt campus and particularly his talk with head coach Bobby Johnson left a big impression on him.

"First we toured the school and saw them practice and saw them work out and I talked to Coach Bobby Johnson," he said. "He said they really wanted me and I really want to go there too. Coach Johnson was saying that if I get hurt, I still have a top scholarship and a degree from Vanderbilt. He was talking about all the pros they have and if not it's a top academic school."

To a certain extent, Hal surprised himself with his sudden commitment so it's safe to say that the Vandy coaches were pleasantly surprised as well.

"They were shocked because at first I was quiet just walking around and watching and taking it all in," he said. "The coach wanted to talk to me and I was like I'm ready to commit and ready to go. They were surprised."

Hal, who had 5 interceptions as a junior including one returned for a touchdown and one other punt return for a touchdown, will focus now on preparing for his senior season and for the SEC.

"I'm just going to work out with my team, do some drills and get better, stronger and faster," he said. "I'm just going to learn the game more and get ready for the season and for college."