Former Ohio State player charged in brutal assault faces Franklin County judge

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A former Ohio State running back was in court Monday morning, facing assault charges that left a man hospitalized in critical condition.

According to court records, Jordan Hall, 34, is charged with felonious assault after a man was found lying unconscious at a Speedway gas station on West Fifth Avenue at the intersection of Olentangy River Road.

On Saturday morning at around 1 a.m., officers arrived at the Fifth by Northwest neighborhood gas station and found a man suffering from blunt forced trauma injuries. He was hospitalized in critical condition and due to the severity of the injuries, the Columbus Homicide Unit was called to assist in the investigation.

A CPD criminal complaint said that Hall, of Columbus, walked into the gas station store with another suspect and returned to a blue Chevrolet Blazer in the parking lot.

Video surveillance reportedly captured Hall then exiting the vehicle and opening the rear passenger door, forcibly dragging the victim out of the SUV and punching him in the face. Hall then allegedly got back in the SUV, which began to drive away.

Police said then the SUV stopped again, and Hall got out to approach the victim, who was hit two more times before falling to the ground and hitting his head.

Hall was arrested later that day without incident. He appeared before a Franklin County Municipal Court judge Monday morning and was issued a $175,000 bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 30.

Hall was a running back at Ohio State from 2009 to 2013 before he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a rookie free agent. He was released before the regular season.

Hall totaled over 1,500 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns at Ohio State and he is the last Buckeyes player to return a kick for a touchdown (Michigan, 2010).

NBC4 is not naming the second suspect listed in the criminal complaint because charges have not yet been filed, according to court records.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477.