Tamba Hali | The War Room | HoustonProFootball.com 
Defensive End
Tamba Hali
College: Penn State
Year: Senior
Height: 6’2"
Weight: 267
Birthday: November 3, 1983
Tamba Hali and his siblings fled their native Liberia a dozen years ago, when their country was in the midst of a brutal civil war. Their father, who lived in New Jersey, knew that he had to get Tamba out as he was at the age (10) when recruiters from the rebel militia would come calling. The young immigrant picked up American football and eventually garnered the interest of recruiters of a different sort. He is now close to becoming a U.S. citizen and is working to bring his mother, who he has not seen since he left Liberia, to this country.
Hali is relentless, never quitting on a play and willing to pursue all over the field. He has the quickness and explosive burst of a natural pass rusher. Hali began his college career as a defensive tackle, so he is stronger against the run than most rush ends.
While Hali forces opponents to work until the whistle on every snap, he struggles to disengage from blockers once they get their hands on him. Since he has a relatively compact build for an edge rusher, he lacks the long arms to keep offensive tackles away from his body. Some of the linemen in the pre-Senior Bowl workouts were able to lock him up, but he rebounded nicely in the game, recording two sacks and earning defensive MVP honors.
Hali dropped into coverage on occasion at Penn State and has the athleticism to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. He could also be a weakside end in a 4-3 defense, preferably a scheme that does a lot of stunting and slanting.
(profile written by Warren DeLuca)
Tamba Hali’s 2005 Stats G TCK TFL SKS FF FR 12 65 17 11.0 1 0 
Tamba Hali Home
Prospect Profiles
>> Tamba Hali
>> Mathias Kiwanuka
>> Manny Lawson
>> Darryl Tapp
>> Kamerion Wimbley
