The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1061540
28 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2019 "Those are great attributes, but as a DB he had a chance to be something special." It took a couple of years for Sand- ers to understand just how special his standout prep performer really was. That particular revelation occurred during track season. Long and Myles Bryant, who now plays at Washington, lived out in Pasa- dena, some 14 miles away from Loyola High School, the sprawling city in be- tween. Long never complained, or even mentioned it. "Pasadena to Loyola High School wasn't an easy trek for this young man," Sanders explained. "He would have to catch the bus to the train sta- tion, from the train station downtown, and then the bus from downtown to the high school. "He was late one time, in three years, for 6 a.m. workouts. David will never say that, but I didn't even realize what he and Myles were going through." Sanders found out by accident. "One day when they were in track, I was still in the office at 7:30, 8 o'clock, and I decided to leave," the coach re- called. "I saw David and Myles at the bus stop. I said, 'Where are you guys going? You need a ride?' And then they told me the story. They told me they do this on an everyday basis. "That day, of course, I gave them a ride. They took me to one of the best cheesesteak places in downtown L.A., because they'd always get off at the downtown train station. "You never knew about it, never heard about it. David would never make excuses for why he couldn't get something done. That, to me, just opened up my eyes with a whole other level of respect for what those young men were doing." GETTING SETTLED IN Long quickly discovered someone to respect in Ann Arbor. He's forever grateful to have encountered former All-American cornerback Jourdan Lewis as his host on his official visit to Michigan. They hit it off immedi- ately, and Lewis became instrumental in Long's decision to pull up stakes and head east. Lewis, then a young cornerback himself, just getting established, made certain another prep star felt as at home as he could. It meant a lot then, and it still does. "He was down-to-earth when I took my official visit here," Long recalled. "He was really helpful, encouraging. One of the things he said to me was: 'A lot of guys at schools don't want you to come there, because they fear it will raise the competition.' He encouraged me, because it was going to help him get better and help me get better. "That was something I appreciated, because I'm always ready to work. It allowed me to get better." Beyond Lewis' words, Long learned from his actions, and those of others with whom he'd become teammates. "I didn't know he was about to be an All-American," Long said. "I got to watch him line up against [Michigan State receiver] Aaron Burbridge. That was probably one of the best match- ups I've seen between a corner and a receiver. "I admired his play, his attitude, his character. He was a dude I wanted to be around and learn from." Other former Michigan defensive backs, such as Jeremy Clark and Del- ano Hill, poured into him as well. "Those guys taught me a lot about holding myself accountable, playing on the field, just how to carry your- self," Long said. "Those are things most players don't get. I was able to get a lot from those guys my freshman year." He got the very most from Lewis, who laid down the perfect example to follow. "He showed me how to compete," Long stressed. "How to come to work every day. How to work hard and compete, regardless of what happens. That dude is a competitor. He came to work every day, even in one-on-one drills. "He's not the loudest guy. He'll talk, but he really worked. That's something I admired and put in my game." Those aren't just empty words, se- nior safety and housemate Tyree Kin- nel assured. "He's a good guy," Kinnel observed of Long. "He's always in the film room, studying his opponent. I worked out with him a lot over the summer, him and Lavert Hill. Their man technique and their natural ability to play man is unreal. "A lot of people don't appreciate what they're really doing. They're Long was named first-team All-Big Ten by the league coaches. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN