BROOKLINE — It can be somewhat intimidating seeing Bill Belichick enter the facility.
When Anthony Hall witnessed a childhood idol in-person a few weeks back, he was caught off guard.
Following an exciting recruitment experience, the Dexter Southfield football star made headlines Friday, as he opted to commit to the longtime football coach’s movement at the University of North Carolina.
“He’s earned this moment,” Dexter Southfield coach Casey Day said. “He’s worked. All the cliches about how hard he’s worked in the weight room and on the football field … his work in the classroom is even more impressive, if not equally impressive. I’m happy for him. He’s going to be going down and in good hands with somebody we know a lot about up here this way. But we’re happy for him.”
A three-star offensive lineman, Hall had received offers from 14 schools, including local FBS programs Boston College and UMass (Amherst).
However, during his junior year, he formed a connection with Steve Belichick, Belichick’s son, who had taken his coaching talents from the NFL to the University of Washington.
“(He reached out) back at Washington,” said Hall. “I was like: ‘Is this really Steve Belichick?’ ”
Shortly thereafter, Steve Belichick visited the Brookline campus, looking to establish his own collegiate program.
“Steve, I believe came in last spring,” said Day. “Offered him when he got back to Washington. Once he landed back with coach Belichick, his dad, at North Carolina, we reached out back and forth. Just a matter of getting him down there with his family and seeing the campus. It’s kind of taken off since then. Something obviously came on kind of strong here in the past few months, but he’s had a relationship with Steve for a year.”
A series of unexpected events occurred in quick succession. Bill Belichick was hired by UNC as its coach in December. He quickly reverted course to recruitment, with Hall climbing to the forefront of his list. Following further discussion with Steve, the former New England Patriots legend decided to take a trip himself to the ISL institution.
“I told him that I’m not a big ‘take a picture with the head coach type of of guy,’ ” Day said. “But I had to break that one. I said I had to break that rule for my mom, say that we were with head coach Bill Belichick. Obviously, there’s a different aura when coach Belichick comes walking into camp.”
Most would find themselves star struck. Hall did, at least until he heard Belichick break down his tape. Then things started to click.
“When he sold me was when we watched film,” Hall said. “When we were watching o-line stuff, I was like, ‘Damn, this guy knows what he’s talking about.’ From there, it was just like, ‘Let’s work.’ ”
In front of a crowd of about 150 friends and family, Hall chose UNC over the likes of Rutgers and Tennessee.
“They’re going to be getting a kid off the field and in the locker room that is what every coach and every parent would want their kids to be around and be with,” Day said. “I can’t speak highly enough of the kid. He’s an incredible member of our community.”