In 2003, Redskins great cornerback Brig Owens was on the selection committee for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to college's best defensive back, and remembers a talented candidate named DeAngelo Hall from Virginia Tech.
Hall ended up finishing second to Oklahoma's Derrick Strait for the Jim Thorpe Award, but he gained a fan that year in Owens – which explains his excitement upon hearing news that Hall had signed with the Redskins back in 2008.
Washington Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall has had a sensational start to the 2013 season, putting together a Pro-Bowl caliber resume on defense.
Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall makes a tackle on Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant. Hall held Bryant to just 36 yards receiving on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 in Arlington, TX.
Hall runs stride for stride with Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, Hall was all over Bryant who only had five catches on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 in Arlington, TX.
Hall celebrates with quarterback Robert Griffin III after his 17-yard pick-six on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013 in Landover, Md.
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall picks off quarterback Peyton Manning in the third quarter for a 26-yard pick-six on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in Denver.
Redskins cornerback makes a shoestring tackle on Denver's wide receiver Demaryius Thomas Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in Denver. Hall finished the day with four tackles, three pass defections, two interceptions and a touchdown.
DeAngelo Hall records his second touchdown of the season vs. the Lions with his first pick-six of the season on a 17-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall celebrates after his second interception vs. the Broncos which made it his third of the season and his first interception he has not returned for a touchdown this year.
Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall makes an outstanding interception, taking the ball away from receiver Demaryius Thomas and keeping himself in bounds near the sideline.
Hall runs into the endzone after recovering a fumble and returning it 75 yards for a touchdown, this season Hall has three touchdowns which is a Redskins record.
DeAngelo Hall matched up against one of the best wide receivers in the NFL Calvin Johnson.
Hall returns his second interception of the season for a touchdown vs. Denver, Hall is fourth on the team in scoring with three touchdowns.
Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall tips a pass away from Cowboys receiver Miles Austin, stopping a sure touchdown catch on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 in Arlington, TX.
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall gets his second touchdown of the season and first interception of the 2013 season for the first score of the game vs. the Lions in the first quarter.
On Friday – 11 years after Hall left Virginia Tech for the NFL – Owens had the opportunity to let Hall know he had won another award: the 2013 Sam Huff Redskins Defensive Player of the Year.
The award was presented at the 53rd-annual Washington Redskins Welcome Home Luncheon.
"This is such a great honor," Hall said. "I'm a kid who grew up a couple hours down the road, went to Virginia Tech – so for me, being a Washington Redskin was always something I wanted."
Owens said Hall brings the perfect attitude to the Redskins' defense.
"When DeAngelo came here, he brought a certain style, electricity, confidence, cockiness, a little swagger," Owens said. "But you know what? You can't play on that island without some confidence and a little swagger – and a little trash talk – because if not, you get eat up."
Consistency has been the name of the game for Hall, who is entering his 11th year in the league.
That certainly continued during the 2013 season, when Hall, 30, showed he's not slowing down anytime soon. In 16 games, he was credited by his coaches with 106 tackles – third-most on the team – and scored a team-record three defensive touchdowns (two via interception return, one via fumble return).
Hall – a three-time Pro Bowler – thanked his coaches for putting him in the right position to make plays.
"We always joke about how I'm probably not the best practice player, but in the game, I tend to turn it on a little bit," said Hall, who re-signed with the Redskins this offseason. "I'm getting old, so I can't turn it on like I used to in practice, but my coaches have done a good job with putting me in position to make plays, and my teammates do a good job of always having my back."
Hall said that even though the 2013 Sam Huff Defensive Player of the Year Award has his name on it, "it's not just for me."
"We all have a job to do, and when we do that job the right way, we're successful," he said.
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