CLEVELAND -- San Diego State cornerback Darren Hall, who earned all-Mountain West accolades each of the past two seasons, was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. A Pasadena, Calif., native, Hall was chosen with the third pick of the fourth round (108th overall).
Hall is the eighth SDSU player selected in the last five NFL Drafts and gives San Diego State 20 NFL Draft selections in the last 11 seasons (since 2011). He's the first Aztec cornerback drafted since Damontae Kazee in 2017 (fifth round to Atlanta Falcons), the second since 2013 and just the third since 2004.
Hall is the first SDSU player drafted to the Falcons since Kazee in 2017.
The Aztecs are now one of just 10 teams with at least one draft pick in each of the last NFL, NBA and MLB drafts since 2019.
Hall, who started all eight games last year for San Diego State in a COVID-shortened season and the final 19 of his career, earned first-team all-Mountain West honors last season after recording 38 tackles (31 solo), including two tackles for loss, three interception (one for a touchdown) and six pass breakups. Hall led the league in pass deflections (INT + PBU) per game (1.12, T-26th in FBS) and passes defended (9, T-39th in FBS), and tied for the most interceptions returned for a touchdown (1, T-6th in FBS). He also ranked second in the MW in passes broken up (6), total interceptions (3) and interceptions yards (72).
Hall, who also garnered all-MW honorable mention accolades in 2019, was on the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List for the best defensive back this past season.
The Aztecs finished 4-4 last year with their four losses coming to teams that went a combined 29-6 (.829). SDSU is set to open its 2021 season at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 4, although game times and television arrangements, including moves to non-Saturdays, will be announced at a later date.