FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Congratulations to two Amsterdam High School student/athletes who signed their letters of intent today, Feb. 1 to continue their football playing careers at the collegiate level in the fall of 2023 while studying for their degrees.
Signing with their parents, siblings, friends and coaches alongside them were Amsterdam Ram standouts Jhai Vellon and Ceasar Thompson.
JHAI VELLON
Jhai Vellon is a three-year varsity football letterman, team captain and Rams’ starting quarterback. He will be attending Franklin Pierce University where he will play Division 2 football on scholarship. He will be majoring in Health Sciences.
Vellon was a player that opposing teams really had to game plan against because of his athleticism and his ability to make plays as a dual threat quarterback. His accomplishments are due to his ongoing commitment to being the best student-athlete he can be both on the field and in the classroom.
Vellon finished his Amsterdam High School playing career with 3,648 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, a 69% completion rate and a QBR rating of 123.4. He also accumulated 1,594 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns and averaged 7.8 yards per carry to finish out his career. Vellon now holds numerous AHS football records for the most passing yards in a season with 2,295 yards, most career passing yards with 3,648 yards, and most career passing touchdowns with 38.
Vellon has been honored with numerous awards over the course of his football career. He was voted team captain for both his junior and senior seasons. During his junior year, he was named New York State Third Team All Purpose Player, 2021 Class A Offensive Player of the Year, a 2021 Albany Times Union Large School Second Team All Purpose Player and the 2021 Daily Gazette All-Area Offensive Player of the Year. During his senior year, Vellon was named NYS Fourth Team Quarterback, 2022 Class A Player of the Year, 2022 Albany Times Union Large School First Team Quarterback, 2022 Daily Gazette All-Area First Team Quarterback, and was selected to the 2022 Section 2 North All-Star Team.
CEASAR THOMPSON
Ceasar Thompson is a two-year varsity football letterman and team captain, playing numerous positions, Defensive Back, Wide Receiver, and Kick/Punt Returner. He will be attending Lock Haven University where he will play Division 2 football on scholarship. He will be majoring in Exercise Science.
One of Rams’ quarterback, Jhai Vellon’s, main offensive weapons, Thompson too was a player that opposing teams had to game plan against with his athleticism and ability to make big plays. He prided himself on his work ethic both on the field and in the classroom.
Thompson finished his AHS playing career with 1,378 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns, four 2-point conversions, and an average of 18.88 yards per completion. On defense, Thompson accumulated 88 total tackles, 78 of them being solo, three tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. As a kick returner, Thompson scored three touchdowns and had 371 yards on 12 returns. He averaged 30.92 yards per return and his longest return was 85 yards for a touchdown. Thompson was also the Rams’ punt returner this season highlighted by a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown. He is now the AHS football record holder for the most receiving yards in a season with 1,032 yds.
Thompson has earned numerous awards over the course of his AHS career. He was voted team captain his senior year. As a junior, he was selected as the 2021 Class A Capital Division First Team All Purpose Player, 2021 Albany Times Union Large School Second Team Kick Returner, and the 2021 Daily Gazette All-Area Second Team Defensive Back. As a senior, he was named New York State Sixth Team All Purpose Player, 2022 Class A Capital Division First Team Wide Receiver, 2022 Daily Gazette First Team Wide Receiver, and was selected to the 2022 Section 2 North Senior All-Star Team.