Josh Hull
Encyclopedia
Joshua Lynn Hull is an American football
linebacker
for the St. Louis Rams
. In college, Hull played linebacker
for Penn State Nittany Lions
.
, about 30 minutes east of State College, Pennsylvania
. He attended Penns Valley High School, where he played football under coach Martin Tobias. He was a three-year starter, serving as team captain and defensive captain as a senior. Hull was selected first-team all-conference on defense after his senior season and was a team captain in the 2006 Lezzer Lumber Classic. He also was a three-year letterman on the baseball team, earning first-team all-conference accolades as an outfielder.
when pre-season All-American Sean Lee
suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring practice. Hull was the starter for all 13 games that season, finishing as the second leading tackler behind Navorro Bowman
with 66 tackles, one quarterback sack
, and one interception
. He had a game-high nine tackles in the 2009 Rose Bowl
.
Hull has received recognition for his academics while at Penn State
. He is a member of the Dean's List
and has been an Academic All-Big Ten
scholar-athlete, majoring in environmental systems engineering. He was named a 2008 Academic All-America
n, and an inaugural recipient of a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award for the 2008-09 academic year.
, on February 6, 2010.
Although not initially invited to the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, he was added to the list of invitees on January 29, 2010. Hull and teammate Dennis Landolt
trained for the combine at TEST in Martinsville, New Jersey
, based partially on the recommendation of his agent, Joe Aloisi and former Nittany Lion Rich Ohrnberger
.
in the seventh round (#254 overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft
. He signed a four-year contract with the Rams on June 28, 2010.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. In college, Hull played linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
Early life
He grew up in Millheim, PennsylvaniaMillheim, Pennsylvania
Millheim is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, about 30 minutes east of State College, Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
. He attended Penns Valley High School, where he played football under coach Martin Tobias. He was a three-year starter, serving as team captain and defensive captain as a senior. Hull was selected first-team all-conference on defense after his senior season and was a team captain in the 2006 Lezzer Lumber Classic. He also was a three-year letterman on the baseball team, earning first-team all-conference accolades as an outfielder.
College career
A former walk-on, Hull became a starter in 20082008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the 2008 college football season. The team is coached by Joe Paterno and plays its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.-Previous season:...
when pre-season All-American Sean Lee
Sean Lee
Sean Patrick Lee is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Penn State.-Early life:...
suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring practice. Hull was the starter for all 13 games that season, finishing as the second leading tackler behind Navorro Bowman
Navorro Bowman
NaVorro R. Bowman is an American football inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, and played his collegiate football for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team.-Early years:...
with 66 tackles, one quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, and one interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
. He had a game-high nine tackles in the 2009 Rose Bowl
2009 Rose Bowl
The 2009 Rose Bowl, the 95th edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game played on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at the same-named stadium in Pasadena, California. Because of sponsorship by Citi, the first game in the 2009 edition of the Bowl Championship Series was officially titled...
.
Hull has received recognition for his academics while at Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. He is a member of the Dean's List
Dean's List
A Dean's List is a category of students in a college or university who achieve high grades during their stay in an academic term or academic year. In secondary schools, or high schools, the term Consistent Honor List or Honor Roll is more common, but Dean's List and Consistent Honor List are...
and has been an Academic All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
scholar-athlete, majoring in environmental systems engineering. He was named a 2008 Academic All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n, and an inaugural recipient of a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award for the 2008-09 academic year.
Pre-draft
Hull played in the 4th Annual Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge in El Paso, TexasEl Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, on February 6, 2010.
Although not initially invited to the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, he was added to the list of invitees on January 29, 2010. Hull and teammate Dennis Landolt
Dennis Landolt
Dennis Patrick Landolt is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010...
trained for the combine at TEST in Martinsville, New Jersey
Martinsville, New Jersey
Martinsville is an affluent unincorporated area located within Bridgewater in Somerset County, New Jersey. Martinsville is located in northeastern Bridgewater near Warren Township; the 08836 ZIP Code takes in the southern extension of Bernards as well...
, based partially on the recommendation of his agent, Joe Aloisi and former Nittany Lion Rich Ohrnberger
Rich Ohrnberger
Richard Paul Ohrnberger is an American football offensive guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
.
St. Louis Rams
Hull was drafted by the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in the seventh round (#254 overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He signed a four-year contract with the Rams on June 28, 2010.