University of Memphis football fans will enjoy getting to know Arkelon Hall.

The former Washington State quarterback, who played last year at the College of the Sequoias (Brent Schaeffer’s junior college), is an engaging, straight-forward, confident athlete. For a quarterback, those are ideal attributes. While he’s not blessed with outstanding speed, he is 6-2 and 215 pounds and possesses the ability to pick up yards when necessary.

He’s also looking forward to a return to the South, where he spent a portion of his childhood. His time at Washington State was limited. He was redshirted his first year and injured during his redshirt freshman season before transferring to the College of the Sequoias.

U of M fans shouldn’t be too quick to annoint Hall as Martin Hankins’ successor, even though Hall was rated the No. 8 quarterback prospect in the nation by ESPN.com coming out of high school. While he threw for 13 touchdowns in junior college, he was picked off 14 times.

But he gives the position a needed boost after losing the record-breaking Hankins, whose final game will be the Dec. 21 New Orleans Bowl. Hall said during his official recruiting visit to the U of M campus last weekend that he would sign with the Tigers next week. He didn’t hesitate when asked if he’d take other visits, saying once he reaches a decision, it’s final.

Having Hall in the mix at quarterback in the spring will be interesting. He’ll battle for the position with returnees Will Hudgens and Matt Malouf. If those three are locked in a solid competition, look for the Tigers to possibly move 6-5 Dallas Walker, a freshman from Ridgeland, Miss., to tight end.