Set to Launch in NFL, Long is Grateful for U-M Experience
3/4/2019 7:30:00 AM | Football, Features
By Chad Shepard
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Cornerback David Long came to Michigan from Pasadena, California. He's a west-coast kid. He could have played at a number of Pac-12 schools, or stayed in a warm-weather climate like many California products choose to do. Instead, he came east to Ann Arbor, and though the fit was great for him in a number of ways, it was also a self-issued challenge.
"I matured in a lot of ways that I wouldn't have if I had stayed home," Long said as he spoke with the media on Sunday (March 3).
"I feel I was a mature person coming into college but going away from home, I was really by myself so I had to man up and take care of things, prioritize things correctly, and manage my time."
Long rose to the task, becoming an All-Big Ten player for the Wolverines while registering 17 pass breakups over 26 starts in his sophomore and junior seasons.
But statistics only tell part of the story when it comes to draft prospects. NFL teams have access to hours of tape and extensive analytical reports, but they don't get to know the person beneath the helmet until they sit down and meet the player face-to-face. Teams pick up valuable insights on every player they interview at the Combine, and for athletes, being comfortable in that setting can be half the battle.
For Long, this is not an issue. He is someone who understands himself well, and not just for his age. He is self-aware and more stable in his identity as a player and person because of his long journey from home. It forced him to grow up in many ways.
College is a period of self-discovery. Many people learn more about themselves in that four- or five-year period than they had in the prior 18. Long gained perspective and experience from his growth period at Michigan. He also developed a sense of individualism that he has benefitted from as both a player and person.
As a cornerback in Michigan's man-press coverage scheme, Long was left on a proverbial island more often than not, covering playmakers one-on-one. That set of responsibilities is perfectly aligned with the independence he developed by coming across the country to play at U-M.
Still, he says it's purely coincidence that his playing style and personality are so similar.
"You can use tough skin being on your own," said Long. "That's the mentality I have in life and it just (so) happens that it's my mentality on the football field and my identity out there."
Long may not indulge the comparison, but it's hard not to see how many traits of the position he plays are also represented strongly in his personality.
He is intelligent, but not arrogant. He is prideful, but not egotistical. He's soft-spoken but maintains an air of confidence that is wholly necessary for what he is regularly asked to do on a football field. Long spoke about how those traits are necessary for a cornerback in today's NFL.
"Whether it's a pick, pass breakup, catch, whatever -- you have to move on to the next play," said Long. "You always have to prepare and stay on your toes. You could do 100 things right, but if you do one wrong you could lose the game."
Never too high, never too low. That's an athlete's credo, but Long puts it into action with such ease that others can think they're just as capable of the zen-like mentality as he is. He's a thinking man's football player, and while the mental side of the game is critical for sustained success, Long's physical attributes are not to be dismissed, either.
"There are some teams that think I have high upside playing press-man from having played within Don Brown's defense, so that's a plus for me," he said.
"I have a lot of assets to bring to an organization. I can play defense, or special teams, or do whatever (it takes) to win. I'm willing and able, and I'll raise the intensity in the room. Whether it's in the meeting room or on the field, guys will have to match my intensity."
"I think I have a really well-rounded skill set," said Long, "and I'm cerebral enough to adjust to things on the go."
Long has also been savvy enough to pick the brains of former Wolverines now in the league, including two-time All-American Jourdan Lewis -- something he says he'll continue to do throughout his career.
"You have to use your resources," said Long. "That's in all stages and parts of life. If you have someone as decorated as Jourdan Lewis, you'd be a fool not to use him. And he's a genuine guy who is willing to help, so I'm definitely going to extend my arm out to him and get as many pointers as I can, which is something I did (previously), and it helped me my sophomore and junior years."
Long decided to forego his senior season to enter the draft this year. He made that decision because he feels prepared to take the next step -- not just as a player, but as a person as well.
"If you're not ready, things aren't going to fall into place," he said, "but I felt I was ready mentally, mature enough physically and I thought it was time for me to come out."
Wherever Long ends up, he is sure to adjust well to his next home. He's already done it once.
2019 NFL Combine
Thursday-Monday, Feb. 28–March 4
Lucas Oil Stadium • Indianapolis, Ind.
Live coverage on NFL Network
Michigan Participants: Karan Higdon, Zach Gentry, Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, Devin Bush, David Long
