Is Virginia CB Bryce Hall a first-rounder or a third-rounder?

Led the nation in pass breakups and passes defended. First team all-conference. Ideal measurables for his position.

If it was last season, we might be talking about Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall as a sure-fire first-rounder. Heck, maybe even a top-10 player.

Instead, Hall came back for his senior year, had a few bumpy games, then suffered a season-ending knee injury against Miami.

Now?

It’s hard to say where he’ll land in the 2020 NFL draft.

Hall (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) finished the year with 20 tackles and no interceptions, giving him five INTs for his career.

Hall suffered an ankle injury against Miami in the second quarter of the team’s 17-9 loss while covering a punt, which required surgery. It’s unknown how long his recovery will take or whether he’ll be available for the Senior Bowl, the Combine, etc.

But don’t assume that Hall would have landed in the first round had it not been for the injury.

Back in August, Tony Pauline, the NFL draft analyst for Pro Football Network, was among the first media members to bump Hall down draft boards, saying Hall was regarded as a third-rounder in scouting circles.

“Hall comes with excellent size, long arms and solid ball skills. He plays tough, instinctive football and does not make mental mistakes on the field. But on film, he does not show great explosion or long speed.”

WalterFootball was more blunt in an Oct. 12 report: “…Hall really struggled with the quick-twitch suddenness of Florida State wide receiver Tamorrion Terry, with the big wideout consistently generating separation coming out of breaks. Hall looks stiff-hipped and not that twitchy. He would be better off in a zone scheme.”

Hall is currently ranked as the No. 5 cornerback and 26^th overall prospect in the Fanspeak On the Clock rankings.