Leon Hall nailed his job interview. And he did it on national television.

The University of Michigan cornerback, late of Vista High, is an NFL draft prospect. Just how high a prospect has been very much in debate.

Some said he was one of the best cover corners available, a sure-fire high first-rounder. Others said his dismal performance against Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn Jr. in his team's biggest game of the year knocked him down the charts. Way down.

Which meant Hall was one of the players most under the microscope at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. And his stock is rising again after his performance Tuesday.

Hall answered questions about his speed by turning in a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. Draftniks also point to his plus performances in other drills designed to measure a DB's explosiveness: the vertical jump (37 1/2 inches), broad jump (10 feet, 5 inches), 20-yard shuttle (4.07 seconds) and 60-yard shuttle (11.62 seconds).

Now comes the easy part -- staying out of trouble until some team comes calling with a job offer in the first round of the draft.

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Center Kyle Young, a draft prospect out of Fallbrook High and Fresno State, did not get an invitation to the combine but is a legitimate draft prospect. He did not finish his final college season because of academic suspension but did show his stuff in the Hula Bowl all-star game. …

Safety Brian Russell, a San Diego State alumnus, will be on the NFL free-agent market come 9:01 p.m. Thursday night. The Cleveland Browns might re-sign him, but not at top dollar. … The Dolphins are expected to try to keep a couple former Chargers who could become free agents: receiver/returner Wes Welker and quarterback Cleo Lemon.

A big week

Congrats to Escondido High alumna Mariee Mena, a softball player at Oklahoma. The senior earned national player of the week honors from USA Softball and Louisville Slugger/NFCA after going 10-for-15 with two home runs as the Sooners went 6-0. Mena kept it up in her first game this week, going 1-for-3 with an RBI on Wednesday in Oklahoma's 14-0, no-hit victory over Arkansas.

For the seamheads

The magic of the Internet sometimes brings knowledge we wish we didn't have. Such as the fact Oakland Athletics minor-leaguer Haas Pratt, a Rancho Bernardo High product, was seen on Denver TV flirting with a local traffic reporter. Never too early in spring for a hitter to work on making contact. …

Former Padres first base prospect Tagg Bozied is in Cardinals camp. He grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the Cards' 6-3 exhibition victory over Florida on Wednesday. … Catcher Wiki Gonzalez is looking to hook on with the Chicago White Sox. He notched a hit in a 12-4 loss to Colorado. …

Right-hander Woody Williams, whose last start was the Padres' Game 4 loss in the playoffs against St. Louis last October, gets the ball for the Houston Astros' exhibition opener Thursday against Cleveland. Williams will be on a 25-pitch limit in his first start for his hometown team. …

Fallbrook High product Matt Chico allowed two runs and three hits in two innings of work Tuesday in a Washington Nationals intrasquad game. Michael Restovich nailed him for a home run.

Connect the dots

Former San Diego State athletic director Mike Bohn convinced his boosters to foot the bill for chartered flights for the Colorado men's basketball team. Nice, he got the team out of coach. Now, all he has to do is hire a coach. …

Former Escondido High football player R.J. Oliver was among the final preseason cuts of the Arizona Rattlers arena team. He was re-signed to the practice squad, however. …

Torrey Pines High alumna Hannah Jun has finished in the top 10 of two straight college tournaments for UCLA. At 4 over par, she tied for ninth this week in the Wildcat Invitational hosted by Arizona. Another ex-Falcon, Cal's Allison Goodman, tied for 11th at 6 over. Jun's Bruins teammate, Rancho Bernardo High product Tiffany Joh, tied for 23rd at 12 over.

- Contact staff writer Shaun O'Neill at (760) 740-3546 or soneill@nctimes.com.