Jordan Hall Continues to Highlight Preseason Watch Lists

Another day, another award watch list for Jordan Hall.

The Michigan State senior linebacker is entering his final season of college football with higher expectations than ever before.

Hall is the leader of a Spartans team looking to find its track back to relevancy, something the program has lacked for years. However, new head coach Pat Fitzgerald is preaching a new brand of bully-ball: a physical, disciplined and precise style of football that emphasizes execution down to the final detail, both on and off the field.

That is something that could benefit Hall immensely, allowing him to truly unleash the animal inside.

It seems many of the nation's top award watch lists are starting to put it together that Hall may be coming off the leash this season. Hall was already named to the watch list for the Dick Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top linebacker.

Now, Hall has landed on another preseason watch list, this time for the Chuck Bednarik Award.

The Chuck Bednarik Award is an annual honor presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. That means people across the nation are starting to recognize that Hall, who returns for his fourth season at Michigan State, could not only be one of the nation's best linebackers, but potentially one of the top defensive players in all of college football.

Expectations are mounting for Hall and the entire Michigan State team.

Spartans fans are getting restless as they continue to see highlights from practice flood their timelines, featuring one-handed catches, interceptions and a ton of chemistry and fun throughout the entire team.

Hall has a chance to be known as one of the greatest Michigan State defenders to ever don the green and white, and watch list voters are taking note. They understand just how impactful Hall could be in Fitzgerald's defense, alongside defensive coordinator Joe Rossi.

The Spartans' defense will need to shine in 2026, and Hall's play should be at the center of it all. If he can take another step forward, his production could have a trickle-down effect across the entire defense and, ultimately, the entire team.

Hall is entering his senior season after producing career highs in several major statistical categories last year, including total tackles (88), interceptions (1), fumble recoveries (1) and forced fumbles (3). He also added healthy numbers in tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (2.5).

Those numbers may need to tick up a bit in 2026, but ultimately, Hall's biggest challenge will be helping this defense make stops when the game is on the line. Stopping teams late to protect a Spartans lead or keep Michigan State within striking distance will truly be the prize this season.

That was something Michigan State struggled with last year. No lead ever felt safe for the Spartans because the defense simply was not making enough plays when it mattered most.

Now, it will be up to Hall to help turn this defense around and become the backbone of Michigan State's 2026 team.

With expectations continuing to grow and another major award watch list recognizing his potential, Hall has plenty of opportunities ahead. The question now is whether he can turn that preseason recognition into the type of dominant season that puts him among the best defenders in college football.