Former Miami blue-chip safety joins Utah State for a fresh start

LOGAN — A "little Miami" community is growing in one of the most quintessentially non-Miami places in the United States.

Taking their talents from South Beach to the place where "the sagebrush grows," a handful of University of Miami football coaches and a player migrated from South Florida to Northern Utah for the 2021 season to join the Utah State program under first-year head coach Blake Anderson.

Hurricanes co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ephraim Banda became the Aggies defensive coordinator and safeties coach last season; and joining him was Miami senior quality control analyst Mike Zuckerman, who took up the position of inside linebackers, and Hurricanes assistant director of player development Alex Devine, who became the Aggies' defensive front specialist.

Banda and crew helped give the Aggies defense a new edge when defensive end Patrick Joyner followed them to Logan. That side, which improved as the season progressed, managed to wreak havoc on opposing offensive schemes and finished third nationally in tackles for loss.

The defense got another ex-Hurricanes player in the offseason by adding senior safety Gurvan Hall, who joins Utah State after four seasons with the Hurricanes, where he started 18 games and posted 148 tackles. While he's a vital addition for the Aggies — replacing All-Mountain West safety Shaq Bond — Hall may need Utah State as much as it needs him.

A former four-star recruit, Hall was the 15th highest-rated safety in the 2018 class that was pursued by several schools. Alabama head coach Nick Saban dropped his helicopter onto the football field of Palm Beach Gardens High and tried to recruit Hall to the Crimson Tide, but Hall committed to Banda and Miami.

Playing in an environment such as Miami had its benefits: He was on a big stage and played for one of the more glamorous brands in college football. Additionally, Hall was able to play near home, at the school where his late grandmother wanted him to go. He was on a team surrounded by talent and an opportunity to do some damage in the ACC.

But it also came with its pressures. Hall wore No. 26 — the same number as legendary Miami defensive back Sean Taylor — and faced the high expectations of the Hurricanes fan base. He also struggled academically and was not on track to graduate by his fourth season at Miami, and by his fourth year, things seemed to reach a breaking point.

"I know he struggled a little bit last year," Banda said.

Hall opened the 2021 season as the starting safety in the first three games; and in those games, he played more snaps than anyone else and was second on the team in tackles. He recorded eight tackles in the opener against Alabama and 10 against Appalachian State.

But the trouble began in the third game of the season against Michigan State. In the 21-point loss to the Spartans, Hall found himself in the highlight reels for an unfavorable reason. In the second quarter of the game, Hall was in a position to make a tackle against a Michigan State receiver off a screen pass. Instead, he crashed into the blocker, which resulted in a 52-yard pickup for the Spartans.

The play went viral and he ended up on the ESPN segment "C'mon Man" and was publicly ridiculed across the country. It got to the point where defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson had to defend him publicly. Robinson told reporters the following week: "One thing that I would never question is Gurvan's toughness. Gurvan's a physical guy; he'll tackle and do all of the things."

Despite getting backed up by his position coach, the low light seemed to have a snowball effect. Hall was suspended the following game against Central Connecticut State for a "violation of team rules." Freshman safety James Williams — the No.1 safety nationally in the 2021 class originally recruited by Banda — replaced Hall as the starter.

Hall played limited snaps the next three games and decided to transfer out of the program.

"It's really tough being an older guy and your role isn't what you think it should be," then-Miami head coach Manny Diaz told reporters in November.

It was clear Hall needed a fresh start. He had several potential suitors, with both Florida State and Ole Miss calling. But the most natural transition seemed to be following the guys who originally recruited him, so Hall joined Banda in Logan.

"I think for him it was a bit of a no-brainer. … He needed somebody to help him get to where he wanted to go," Banda said. "And he trusted me. That's the biggest thing."

Hall said the two had "a great relationship" and it was just "two dudes loving each other at Miami, and he got me to come here."

Banda, who has known Hall since he was a junior in high school, said trust played a major factor for Hall to transfer to Utah State; it was about being in a place where the people around him believe in him, which empowers him to play to the best of his abilities.

"If you don't have trust in him, it's going to be harder for him to get things done," Banda said. "That's how a lot of kids are from South Florida. It's about trust."

After three months at Utah State, the early verdict is that it's been the right move for Hall. He put in the work leading up to spring ball and showed out at morning workouts and afternoon lifts, while getting to know new teammates and the team culture.

As Banda hoped, having the group of coaches from Miami, along with Joyner, have been beneficial for the transition.

During a post-practice interview, Hall disrupted the conversation when he saw fellow Miami ex-pat, Devine, walking by 20 yards away.

"Hey coach Alex!" Hall cheerfully yelled.

Dialing back into the interview, he looked back and said: "It's like I really got a family here."

With a base trust of the South Floridan kin, Hall's beginning to ingrain himself into the greater Utah State family as well. Hall seems relaxed at spring ball practice, celebrating with teammates, hustling in between drills and utilizing his speed to track down wideouts. He mentioned AJ Vongphachanh and Byron Vaughns as two defensive leaders he's looked up to, and he hopes to become a team leader himself.

"Coach Anderson's making me feel like one of his sons," Hall said. "I mean, just being here, I'm very blessed to be here."

Even the unpleasant new experiences, such as experiencing the cold and the snow, have helped Hall further ingrain himself. Hall recalled a story of a snowboarding trip to Cherry Peak Ski Resort where he rolled "halfway down the hill" and then had to hike back up the mountain to retrieve his goggles.

"That's when I knew I was a Utahn for real," Hall joked.

Beyond the snowboarding incident, Hall is getting a similar experience to what other transfers to Utah State got last year: a new start in a place where people believe in them.

Ask Calvin Tyler Jr. who came from Oregon State or Vaughns, who came from Texas. Both have said the move to Logan has changed their career for the better.

It's not a coincidence.

"I think the community of Cache Valley is such a unique, very family driven, very friendly place," Banda said.

It's an environment the coaching staff has tried to reflect with the team as they value their players, and, in turn, get the most out of them.

"Every kid that comes in has a fresh start and a chance to be who they want to be," Banda said. "They get an opportunity to hit the reset button and we treat them accordingly with no past bias."

For Hall, there's no doubt his ceiling is high. He has the speed, physicality and talent to be a top safety in the Mountain West.

"I already know what Gurvan's going to do on the field; I've seen it," Banda said. "He's going to play really, really hard; he's gonna tackle; he's gonna make the right play; I know that will happen."

The challenge will be fulfilling everything else that comes with it. That involves having a "laser-like focus" through spring ball, summer camp and in his academics.

"For Gurvan, what I'd love to see is him take that senior jump," Banda said. "That senior leap that I've seen other guys that he really looks up to (do). ... And really academics. I really really want to see him take himself to the next level academically and finish with a college degree."

If one thing's for certain, it's that Hall still loves the game of football. He takes pride in being "the quarterback of the defense" at the safety position, seeing the whole field and directing teammates on where to go. He's not afraid of being in the limelight; he just needed a different light to shine in. And a handful of his Miami family, combined with his new Utah State family, provides that.

"I'm supposed to be here; I'm really happy to be here," Hall said. "I wouldn't change my decision, and we're ready."

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