Ahmard Hall always held on to his dream of playing college football.
Though Ahmard was a successful high school athlete—a senior captain on the football team, receiving first team all-district honors—his academic discipline was lacking. With the guidance of his brother-in-law, a Marine, Ahmard decided to follow by example and enlist in the Marine Corps.
He served for four years in the Marine Corps, deploying to Kosovo and Afghanistan. Throughout his service Ahmard, a faithful Texas football fan, watched the team progress as a dominant program.
When Ahmard left active duty in 2003, he attended The University of Texas on the GI Bill where he walked onto the Longhorns football team. Mack Brown (former Texas head coach), expressed the Longhorns’ excitement to have Ahmard on the squad:
“He epitomizes everything you want in a student-athlete. Ahmard is a great leader, hard-working and determined teammate, a dedicated father and husband and a guy who proudly serves our country. He’s certainly a person we are extremely honored to have in our football program and at our University.” (qtd. in Ahmard Hall named Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year)
Ahmard worked his way from his walk-on status to a starting position by his senior year on the 2005 national championship team. What’s more—that season he was awarded the Big 12 Male Sportsperson of the Year award for his sportsmanship and community service. Ahmard organized a care package drive for veterans. He attributes the success of his re-energized football career to the discipline and toughness he acquired through his experience as a Marine. (Rodriguez, “Catching up with Ahmard Hall”)
Upon graduating, at age 26, Ahmard was signed to the Tennessee Titans as a free agent. His bio for the Tennessee Titans includes an impressive remark: “In 2009, Hall was a major factor in one of the top individual offensive seasons in NFL history.” As a member of the Titians, Ahmard established a Veterans Day tradition of taking players and cheerleaders to Nashville’s V.A. hospital. Ahmard attributes his success as a leader on the Tennessee Titans to the skills he learned as a Marine:
“I’ve been in charge of guys and I’ve been in charge of their lives. Being able to lead in real-world situations allows me to be able to help guys on the Titans with anything they might encounter.” (qtd. in Vince Casey’s NFL News article)
