Hall makes a statement for Bel Air

Bel Air High hasn't had a winning season since 2004, when they won 11 games and advanced all the way to the state semifinals. That season was also the last time the Bobcats boasted a Division I player. Two in fact. Twins to be more precise. Yes, ever since Adam and Andrew Berry left Bel Air to play for Princeton and Harvard, respectively, their alma mater has been middling in mediocrity.

That could change in 2010. The Bobcats may or may not eclipse the .500 mark, but for the first time in six seasons they have a player who strikes fear in their Harford County foes. Running back Dezmon Hall is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound dynamo with a speed-power combination that has the Bel Air faithful giddy and college recruiters intrigued.

"Right now he has the athletic ability, the speed, the strength the size and, most importantly, the desire to play high-level college football," said second-year Bel Air coach Marc Alegi. "To get to those schools, players have to want it. He wants it. There's no reason why he can't play at a Towson, a Villanova or a Richmond."

Players with Hall's talent are rather uncommon in Harford County. Sure, Aberdeen produced E.J. and Erin Henderson and Joppatowne had Jeremy Navarre, but the county is not a recruiting hotbed by any means. Every once in a while, however, the schools get a little lucky. This time, it's Bel Air's turn.

For the first 14 years of his life, Hall lived in Georgia. But when his stepfather, who works for the military, received word he was being transferred to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, the family had to move.

Before choosing a new home the family - Hall's mother is an elementary school teacher -- decided to research the Harford County public schools. They wanted to send their son to a solid academic institution. Bel Air High ranked No. 1 in the county, so they moved into that school's district.

"Moving to Maryland and Bel Air was a huge shock," Hall said. "I didn't know what to expect from the community, the school, the coaches, the players. It was different from Georgia; I was missing it because that's home. But I needed to get away from the distractions in Georgia, so I knew this was good for me. So far it's been great."

Hall didn't come to Bel Air as a major football prospect, however. He attended Worth County High in Georgia his freshman year and played jayvee ball. But when he transferred to Dougherty High his sophomore year, the Georgia district ruled him ineligible for fall sports.

Hall couldn't play in the games, but he still worked out with the team and stayed in shape. The problem was he had no film or highlights. So when he moved to Bel Air, Hall had to prove himself to the coaches.

It didn't take long.

"I knew he was going to be special the first day I saw him run," Alegi said. "When you watch a kid run, you can tell right away what kind of an athlete he is. Dezmon did things you can't coach: quick cuts, the way he dipped in and out, his fast feet."

What impressed Alegi even more was Hall's discipline. He did everything exactly like the coaches said, never complained and wasn't afraid to put in extra time.

"Being from a military family, I'm very disciplined," Hall said. "From the very beginning it's all been about respect - looking people in the eye, how to shake hands, yes sir, no sir -- and hard work. It's what's expected of me."

Hall is one of the most polite teenagers you'll meet off the field, but in pads he makes no apologies. When the Bobcats had their first two-a-days he lined up a linebacker at pummeled the running backs. During wide receiver drills, he torched the cornerbacks and never dropped a pass.

"He hadn't played in over a year and he's doing these things naturally, without any coaching," Alegi said. "As coaches we knew right away we wanted to get him the ball as much as possible."

Bel Air stuck him at wide receiver in order to take advantage of his speed and height. Hall managed to corral 28 passes for 400 yards and four touchdowns in seven games. Then came the Week 8 game against Elkton - homecoming.

"That was a big game for me," Hall said. "It was my breakout game."

On a whim, Alegi experimented with Hall at running back. On the first play from scrimmage, he ran left, hit a crease and took off 80 yards for a touchdown. That earned Hall a few more carries.

Later in the first half he ran a counter play, but the linebacker shot through the 'A' gap untouched. Hall deftly sidestepped him, ran up the middle, broke a tackle and dashed 15 yards for his second touchdown.

Next Hall showed off his receiving skills. He ran a wheel route out of the backfield and made a diving catch in the end zone. And for an encore, Hall intercepted a pass on defense and came up just shy of a fourth touchdown.

"After that game, I told my assistants, 'I think we have a new running back,'" Alegi said. "We had to get him the ball more. We knew he had the power and speed, but when we put him back there at tailback his instincts really stood out. He showed great field vision; he sensed the holes opening up."

Hall started the season finale at running back and piled up 100 yards. His two game totals were 45 carries for 300 yards and two touchdowns, which basically cemented his spot as the No. 1 running back in 2010.

"Now that I'm the starting running back I think I can do even better next year," Hall said. "I really think I can be All-State, or at least All-County if I get overlooked."

Hall is making it awfully hard to get overlooked. He's been a mainstay at combines and camps and is constantly working in the weight room and running track.

"He wants to impress us; he wants to prove to us he can play the game at a high level," Alegi said. "He's very dedicated and he wants to play at the next level and he's motivated to do that."

Hall realizes college recruiters are in love with combine numbers. So he's feverishly trying to knock 0.1 of his 40-yard dash time to get down to a 4.4. Plus he wants to add about 10 pounds of muscle and increase his bench-press above its current 255 pounds. On top of that he's taking care of his grades so he'll qualify academically.

"I was a little worried I wouldn't get noticed at Bel Air, but my coaches told me if I perform in the classroom and on the field they'll take care of me with recruiting," said Hall, who has received invitations to camps at Stony Brook and Connecticut. "I did my part and now they're doing there's.

"Give the opportunity, I can play a I-AA school," Hall said. "I'm confident and ready to prove it."