Now Hall, the man with prototype body and impressive workout numbers, hopes to find a home in the Colts' vaunted offense.

"I took a trip here, but I wasn't able to meet with coach (Tony) Dungy or anybody on the staff, so I wasn't sure how it went," Hall said today after Indy wrapped up its latest minicamp workout. "And when they drafted Gonzo, I thought, 'OK, they got their receiver.' "

Instead, the Colts used the first of their two fifth-round picks on Hall, who started only seven games in four years at Ohio State. Hall never caught more than 17 passes in a single season and was constantly overshadowed by the likes of Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn Jr., and Gonzalez — all eventual first-round picks. Hall was so far back in line he wasn't even invited to February's NFL combine.

Indy saw intriguing possibilities in the talented 23-year-old.

At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, Hall was already bigger than any wide receiver on the Colts. He's built like a bodybuilder and impressed scouts by running the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.35 seconds during his campus workout at Columbus.

The rare combination of size, speed and strength convinced Indy officials to take a chance on Hall even though they have two Pro Bowl receivers — Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne — under contract and had already selected Gonzalez in the first round.

So where will Hall fit with the Colts?

Some believe he is big enough and strong enough to play tight end, where the Colts already have three established veterans in Dallas Clark, Ben Utecht and Bryan Fletcher. But first, the Colts will try Hall as a pure wideout.

"Right now we're zeroed in on getting him to play receiver," Dungy said. "If he plays the slot, he could be a lot like Dallas Clark."

In this offense, there's really not much difference between what Clark does and what Hall could. The Colts' usual game plan calls for either two tight ends or three receivers, and with Brandon Stokley missing most of last season with injuries, Clark filled in as the swingman.

Hall relishes the possibility. During the three weeks of summer school, the Colts' version of voluntary minicamps, Hall said he's gotten more work than he did at Ohio State and that he's still learning the intricacies of playing with Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning.

"It's been a lot of fun," Hall said. "You see his (Manning's) personality on all those commercials and when you get around him, he's the same way. It took me a week or so to get over that I'm around him and realize that he's a football player just like me."

All Hall really wants, though, is a chance to prove he can play in the NFL. And it doesn't matter much to him, which spot the Colts prefer: receiver, tight end or special teams. Hall believes he can add some versatility to Indy's offense in whatever spot they choose.