Ja’Quan Thomas and Jayden Johnson, both seniors at William Floyd High School, have been named among the top 100 high school football players on Long Island by Newsday ahead of the fall 2025 season. This is the first time either student-athlete has received this recognition.
Jayden Johnson plays as a defensive lineman for the Colonials. According to Newsday, “His combination of size, speed and athleticism make opponents game plan to stop him.” Paul Longo, head coach of the Colonials, described Jayden as one of the returning players expected to strengthen the team’s defense in the upcoming season. In 2024, Jayden recorded 30 tackles and four sacks. He also had a notable performance during the Section XI playoff semifinals with nine tackles in a win over Sachem North.
Ja’Quan Thomas excelled as a running back last season. Newsday highlighted that his 2,594 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns were both the highest totals on Long Island in 2024. In the first round of the Section XI playoffs, he rushed for 303 yards and scored six touchdowns against Sachem East. Ja’Quan’s achievements earned him several honors: co-recipient of the Joe Cipp Award for Suffolk County’s best running back, selection to Newsday’s All-Long Island First Team, Division I MVP, and New York Jets/Gatorade High School Offensive Player of the Year. Newsday also ranked him tied for first among running backs heading into 2025.
The Colonials will start their season with an away game against Sachem North before hosting Brentwood at home on September 20 during Homecoming Day.
Newsday previewed William Floyd football in its week one episode of "Sarra Sounds Off!" The segment covering William Floyd begins around two minutes and fifty seconds into the video or can be accessed directly through this link. Additional coverage about Suffolk Division I football is available from Newsday (subscription required).
“His combination of size, speed and athleticism make opponents game plan to stop him.”