Jake Long

Jake Edward Long (born May 9, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL).

It was the first unbeaten Metro League season by any team since 1989 and Lapeer East's first unbeaten season since 1980.

Long was a 2001 Flint, Michigan All-Metro League lineman on both sides of the ball as a defensive end and offensive lineman.

And in Lapeer East's final game of the 2001 season, Long rushed for three touchdowns.

As a junior that football season, he was listed at 6 ft, 270 lbs.

In Long's first start as a varsity basketball player on December 4, 2001, he led all scorers although he only scored one first half point.

That season, he helped lead Lapeer East to an unbeaten 14–0 Metro League record (17–3) overall as they prepared for the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) tournament.

That season, the football team set a school record by posting a nine-game winning streak, which started after an October 6, 2001 loss the prior year.

The team achieved its first state playoff win in its 27-year history that season.

The team's 9–2 record was the best in school history, and Long was again chosen as an All-Metro League selection on both offense and defense.

Long was an All-Metro league first team selection, but his team lost in the 2002 Class A district semifinal on the road.

By the end of the basketball season, he was listed at 6 ft, 290 lbs.

As a junior, he was a second-team All-Metro League baseball selection as an infielder.

By the end of his junior year, he had already set the school home run record in baseball and was the fifth-ranked high school football prospect in the state of Michigan (future Michigan teammate and co-captain LaMarr Woodley was number one).

After his junior year of high school, he attended the University of Michigan football camp, which ran from June 16–21.

At the conclusion of the camp, Michigan Wolverines football head coach Lloyd Carr offered him a scholarship as an offensive tackle.

Long, who was a lifelong Michigan Wolverines fan, responded with a verbal commitment.

At the time, Long weighed 305 lbs and Michigan hoped he would bulk up to 330 lbs by the time he arrived.

Long had made official visits to Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Purdue.

In his 2002 senior season, Long helped lead Lapeer East to their first season opener win since 1995 and their first state playoff appearance since 1993.

That season, he became the first Lapeer East player selected to the All-state Dream Team in 2002.

Although he was All-State as a lineman, Long often lined up at fullback and accumulated four career touchdowns.

In 2006 and 2007, he earned Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten recognition.

In 2006, he was an Outland and Lombardi Award watch lists selection and in 2007 he was a finalist for both awards.

He was a consensus first-team All-American in 2006 and 2007.

After being drafted by Miami, he became an immediate starter and started every game that the team played.

At the conclusion of his rookie season, he was selected to numerous All-Rookie teams and was a substitute Pro Bowl selection.

He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins first overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.

He also played for the St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings.

In high school, Long was the first player in his high school's history to earn all-state "Dream Team" (all-class state team) honors in football from the Detroit News.

He was a two-time first-team All-Metro League player in both basketball and football, where he was honored both on offense and defense.

In baseball, he was a two-time second-team All-Metro League selection.

In both basketball and football, he led his team to regular and post season success that had not been seen in many years.

At the University of Michigan, he redshirted for a year and then became a starter at offensive tackle for the football team in the third game of his redshirt freshman season.

He earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference recognition and Rivals.com Freshman All-American recognition.

Long followed up on a successful rookie season by earning Pro Bowl roster spots in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Long was born in Lapeer, Michigan, the son of John and Denise Long.

He attended Lapeer East High School, where he was the first player in his high school's history to earn all-state "Dream Team" (all-class state team) honors in football.

In baseball, he played first base.

He played basketball, baseball and football in high school.