Hala doesn’t disagree.

“The team looking at me, I know they expect a lot. And everything they expect, I definitely could give,” Hala said.

“Some of my personal goals: I definitely want to be first team (Big Sky) and I want to be the Big Sky defensive player of the year. Those are high expectations, but delusion is what got me here.”

Hala plans to make his presence felt in the middle of the field.

“I love contact,” he said. “I love going through people’s faces, whether he’s a lineman, running back, tight end. I love getting my hands on people and I love putting my face in it.”

He says he and the linebackers will join up with the defensive line to make a strong front.

“We’ve got KT (Keahnist Thompson), Matt Herron, we’ve got Kev Johnson, EP (Easton Payne). We’ve got some dogs in the front.”