Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2007, he was a scrawny 200-pound sophomore tight end at Central Michigan sobbing because Kelly wanted him to switch to the offensive line (right tackle) ��� quite possibly at Longo���s urging. The thought of transferring instead of blocking for the rest of his career came immediately for Staley. That was before he spent much time with Longo. And what a transformation it was. Staley weighs in now at 315 pounds ��� the product of three years worth of twice-daily workouts, eating ���a miserable amount of food��� and 2�� a.m. alarm bells to choke down pre-made shakes to keep his growing stomach full. Staley was selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft (28th at Central. When [Notre Dame plays] out here at Stanford, I go visit him at the team hotel. He���s just a great guy.��� Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce said he wouldn���t have thrived at Cincinnati, let alone gotten a chance at the professional level, if not for the extra hours Longo put in with the Bearcats walk-on. Kelce redshirted as a freshman ���We certainly wouldn���t be the football team that we are today without our strength and conditioning program, and in particular the leadership that Paul brings us.��� Head coach Brian Kelly ���Just the rapport I built really quickly with [Longo] in the little time we had spent together when they first got there, I just felt like he was the guy I needed in my career and on my path,��� Staley said. ���I wasn���t looking to play in the NFL, I just wanted to be a good college football player. ���It���s the first time I heard anyone say to me, ���If you transform your body and put in the hard work, you���re going to be a high draft pick in the NFL.��� That���s the first time anyone said I could make it to the NFL.��� overall), made the 2012 Pro Bowl and helped the San Francisco 49ers reach the Super Bowl this past season. ���You have to prove to him, because it���s a ton of time to be that involved with each person, your commitment and work ethic every single day,��� Staley added. ���He takes a lot of pride in what he does and he expects everyone to give their best effort. He���s definitely intense. His quiet demeanor goes away when it���s time to get to work. ���He was the guy I developed the biggest connection with in my years linebacker in 2006 before Kelly took over the controls in 2007, bringing Longo with him. ���[Longo] took one look at me and said, ���You���d be a great center one day,������ said Kelce, who ran the fastest 40yard dash by an offensive lineman at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine (4.89 seconds) and was drafted in the sixth round by Philadelphia, where he started all 16 games last season and the first two of this year before injuring his knee. ���It was about four weeks later in spring ball they moved me to center.