Hall's Big Plans
Though he has already gone through spring football and completed his first semester at Oklahoma as a student-athlete Jeremiah Hall should have just been completing his senior year of high school. The talented multi-use skill player sat down with SoonerScoop.com before his departure to Norman to talk about his historic season at Charlotte (N.C.) Vance as well as his upcoming arrival to Norman.
Vance, who pledged early to Oklahoma and never wavered from his choice, said that though his senior football season ended in the state semi-finals it was a year that he, and his program, won’t soon forget.
“Going through my senior year it was already something special because it was my senior year – I got to lead the team and get us in the direction we wanted to go into. It was great, some people lose they say ‘what if we did this or that better’. When we lost in the state semis, I felt more proud than anything,” Hall said. “I had no regrets about what I did personally, what the plan was going into the game. I was 100-percent with my team. We beat every major team in my area, we beat Mallard Creek, Huff, Independence. We may not be state champions but we’re the champs of the city.
“I don’t think it has ever happened that a school beat Mallard Creek, Butler, Huff, and Independence.”
Unlike many seniors, who hope to make not only a team mark but also a personal one Hall said he came into the year with little to no thought of what type of numbers he would put up in Vance’s many roles for him.
“Going into the season I didn’t really set any statistical goals which is probably why any reporter or someone would call I never really knew my stats. I just knew I wanted to lead my team as far as it could go. Looking back on it now I had something like 1,016 yards with 100-something rushing yards. I set the record for receptions by a tight end. I made all-area, all-state, all Charlotte Observer, our local newspaper,” he said. “I met my goal, I came up one game short of the state championship but I was so proud of the accomplishments of our underclassmen. We had guys who had never played football who came out as seniors and I helped them develop, along with the work from our coaches. Some teams struggle with the process but we didn’t have any problem doing that, when we lost our first game, it was sad but it was woke us up. I had fun and met all of my goals for the most part.”
And like most high school seniors Hall enjoyed the reality of a light class load. However rather than that light class load being created by lethargy for Hall it was much more about over achieving in his early high school career.
“To be honest with you, as you may or may not know, I had a 4.8 GPA and that means I had my classes done early. I only had three classes this year – weight-lifting, English, and public speaking. One of those was in the classroom, one was in a community college off campus, and one was in a weight room. So I didn’t have too much interaction with my classmates,” he said.
“I spent about half the day at school and then would come back for football practice.”
Hall, though a hard-nosed football player, admits that having to leave his family and friends was a reality that hit him hard not long before his departure back in January.
“Early on in the process I didn’t really think about it. I just thought, I’m going to Oklahoma, it wasn’t until around early December when I sat down and thought to myself, I was thinking, this is my last month here in Charlotte and I kind of broke down a little bit,” Hall admitted.
“The thought of leaving my family and friends, I just kind of lost it. I had to look back on everything I’ve accomplished. Everybody is rooting for me, just needed time to talk to my family and friends and knowing they’ll come see me as often as they can made me more comfortable.
“I just needed a little bit of reassurance that my family was going to be there. But now I’m full-steam ahead, Boomer Sooner.”
Being a full back from North Carolina it’s probably not a huge surprise that Georgia freshman running back Trey Sermon made fast friends with Hall.
“I’m rooming with Trey Sermon, the running back out of Georgia. When we took the official visit together I spent most of my time with him because coach B [Jay Boulware] is my coach, well both of ours. My personality, I’m more of a laid back kind of guy and he is too, it was just all very comforting and I said ‘why don’t we room together’ and we are kind of familiar with each other now,” he said.
“It definitely makes it easier, knowing that not saying that Trey is struggling but he has an idea of where I’m coming from – since he is from the East Coast. Justin (Broiles), Robert (Barnes), Levi (Draper), they are familiar with the idea. My spring visit and my official visit, those two visits are the only time I’ve been to Oklahoma. Having Trey around and knowing where I’m coming form, knowing we have some of the background helps a little bit.”
Again, he may have already completed his first spring but his words from the Winter about the chance to play alongside Sooner players he has spent the past few years watching, and getting to know, is something that figures to resonate with Sooner fans.
“To be honest with you I’m still in awe that I’m going to live a dream that I’ve grown up watching people on television, people like Dede Westbrook and Baker Mayfield make these amazing plays. Talking about Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine and I may not have that much attention but just to be a part of it and in the same locker room and atmosphere as them. But you know I’ve got to put in the work so there is still something surreal about it but I know once I get there I’ll be ready to get rolling,” he said.
One player that he clearly watched closely was current Sooner fullback Dimitri Flowers who had numerous highlights through the season, including a 100-yard rushing game against Iowa State.
“Comparing to what he did last year and this year, I know exactly what he did. You look around my stats I’ve got 4-500 yards rushing and around 1,000 receiving yards. It’s the same position, just a different system. I’m very comfortable with what I’m walking into. I don’t think anybody plays a more diverse role and I have 100-percent respect for what he does and I hope he’ll give me insight into how to be a college player,” he said.
“I’m prepared for what I’m getting into, I did it in high school I played running back, slot, played some fullback. I’m ready to face that and ready for the challenge.”
Hall undoubtedly seeks national titles and on-field success but admits that it’s not the only thing he thought about when he considered what a successful career in Norman would mean.
“Goals, I could say the typical stuff – make All-American and stuff like that but I’ve never sat down and thought about that. I just play as hard as I can and try to do my job,” he offered.
“I guess make connection and just give it everything I have. Make connection as in get to know people, see what Oklahoma has to offer to me. I don’t want to do just football and keep my circle tight, I’m going to use what they have to offer me – join clubs if I can and meet new people. If you’re from California I may see what that’s like living over there.
“My biggest goal would be to explore everything the school has to offer, the clubs, the school, the people. Anyone who can show me more about life.”