Floyd's Jeru Hall wins Zellner Award
Division I William Floyd Colonials from L to R, coach Paul Longo, Evan Commadore, Jeru Hall, Matt Benjamin, Joe Melecio, Jayden Johnson, Ja’Quan Thomas during the Suffolk County HS Football Media Day on Tuesday August 26, 2025 at the Radison Hotel in Hauppague. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Jeru Hall could feel pride in what Ja’Quan Thomas did, taking the football on rides for more than 2,000 yards on the ground this season for Floyd as he did in the previous one.
The senior right tackle could also feel pride in what he did to help, opening paths for Thomas.
“It’s been great,” Hall said. “I’ve been blocking for him my whole life. I’ve been playing with him since I was 5. It just feels normal, just pushing for someone, making him greater, making me look good.”
Hall looked so good for a 10-1 team that made the Suffolk I final that he took the handoff of the Bob Zellner Award Monday night as the county’s top lineman.
The honor came during the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association awards dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge. Hall said Sunday it meant a lot even to be a finalist.
“Jeru has done a great job for us for two years,” coach Paul Longo said. “He’s been a dominant right offensive tackle for us. He’s a violent, tough player. I think it’s obviously well deserved.
“He’s been a big reason why we’ve been running the ball like crazy. He’s a big reason why Ja’Quan Thomas has gotten a lot of the yards that he’s gotten.”
Thomas took the Hansen Award as Suffolk’s top player. The 6-2, 265-pound Hall began as a running back himself in youth football before switching to the offensive line in middle school.
“He’s just totally dedicated to football,” Longo said. “He’s in the weight room all the time.”
Several D-III schools are recruiting him.
“I feel like it’s going to [take] me a couple of seconds to realize what I’m getting myself into,” Hall said, “but I feel like I’m going to excel at that level once I get the hang of it.”
