Zeke Jones and company laid low for a little while. Emphasis on “a little while.” Already boasting a comically loaded recruiting class, it couldn’t get stronger, right?

Sure it can. The Sun Devils added a name you may have forgotten, but shouldn’t have. Tanner Hall has been out of the wrestling world’s conscious for the last 2 years as he has been serving his Mormon Mission in Uganda! The big man has decided to call ASU his home for the next few years.

Hall, an Idaho native spent time training at the OTC directly after high school before his Mormon Mission. In High School Hall was fantastically decorated winning multiple Fargo titles in both Freestyle and Greco. In 2012 he made serious noise knocking off Kyle Snyder in 2 straight matches(5-0, 1-0) and (3-1, 2-1) to make the Junior World Team. He also knocked off All American’s Scott Schiller and Willie Miklus en route to the finals series against Snyder.

Hall isn’t just a Freestyle phenom, he’s won Folkstyle tournaments at the highest level including Ironman and multiple Idaho State titles.

Tanner will fill a need in the ASU lineup at 285. ASU is rapidly becoming a team with fewer and fewer weights without a blue chipper as they already have Anthony and Zahid Valencia, Lance Benick, Josh Shields and Josh Maruca headed to Sun Devil Country!

I got on the line with Tanner to discuss his time away, his decision and plans for his Freshman season. I asked Tanner why he chose Arizona State:

“After spending 2 years on my mission sometimes things that are important to you change. I took a visit a few months ago and things really started to click. They have a nice arts school there, I had a previous relationship with Zeke and the other assistant coaches they had there.”

The choice for Tanner was not easy as he had multiple schools batting down his door to get Tanner on board. Hall went on to mention he took official visits to both Iowa State and Nebraska. “Those guys out there are great, I have so much respect for Kevin Jackson and Mark Manning, it’s just Arizona State was the place for me.”

Being on his Mormon Mission for 2 years impacted how much he could train, I asked about his exercise regimen (or lack thereof) while he was away in Uganda. “Your Mission is very scheduled, you wake up at 6:30 every morning and you get 30 minutes of exercise in the morning that mostly consisted of pushups, sit ups and squats.”

Hall arrived back in the United States in November. I asked how he felt his wrestling was coming along. “I’m getting there. Somethings take a little bit longer than others, but I feel good. For the most part I’m ready to go.”

Hall will have the option to Redshirt next year should they decide to, but at this point, that’s not the plan. “Right now the plan is to not redshirt, because I’m planning on going heavyweight. I’m walking around at 230 pounds but that’s something that the Coaches and I will have to discuss.”

If you forgot about Tanner Hall these matches should jog your memory! Congrats to Arizona State and Tanner!