Michigan Football: The Wolverine's Top-25 Since '97 - No. 3
The Wolverine continues its series of the top 25 Michigan players since 1997 with No. 3, Jake Long.
A home grown Michigan prospect that went on to become one of the greatest offensive lineman to ever play at the school, Long was just the second No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft the Wolverines have ever produced.
Long played his high school football at Lapeer East (Mich.) High, and became the team's first ever member of the Detroit News Dream Team following the 2002 high school football season. Rivals.com ranked Long as the No. 21 offensive tackle in the country and No. 6 overall prospect in the state for the class of 2003.
After arriving in Ann Arbor, Long redshirted the 2003 season and made his debut on the football field during the 2004 season opener against Miami (Ohio). It didn't take long for Long to earn a starting role, winning the job for that season's week-three game against San Diego State. Long started eight games his redshirt freshman season and then struggle with injuries throughout his 2005 season and didn't appear until Oct. 22. In his first two seasons the Wolverines were 16-8 with a pair of bowl losses against Texas and Nebraska.
For his third season, Long was permanently placed on the left side of the line, after playing mostly right tackle in his first two seasons. Blocking for Mike Hart and protecting quarterback Chad Henne's blind side, Long was tasked with keeping the offense rolling, which is exactly what he did. Michigan went undefeated leading into the Ohio State game that season, and reached a No. 2 ranking before losing to the Buckeyes and then USC in the Rose Bowl that season. Following the 2006 campaign, Long was named a consensus All-American, as well as first team All-Big Ten and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Though he could have left for the NFL Draft, Long stayed at Michigan for the 2007 season, as did Hart and Henne. With high hopes for the season, which turned out to be coach Lloyd Carr's last, the team stunningly lost the season opener to Appalachian State. The team was able to rally, going 9-3 the rest of the way, and finished the year with a Capitol One Bowl victory over Florida. That season Hart set the school rushing record behind the Long led offensive line. Following the season, Long was named an All-American for the second straight year, this time by a unanimous vote. He was also again first team All-Big Ten and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Long entered the 2008 NFL Draft and was selected No. 1 overall by the Miami Dolphins, joining Tom Harmon, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Bears in the 1941 draft, as the only Wolverines to be the first overall pick. Long played for the Dolphins from 2008-2012 and was selected to the Pro Bowl from 2008-2011. As a rookie he was named to the Pro Football Writer's Association All-Rookie Team, and he was an All-Pro first team honoree in 2010 as well as a second team honoree in 2009. Long struggled with injuries later in his career and spent two years with the St. Louis Rams after leaving the Dolphins, as well as a year each with the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings. Long announced his retirement in the spring of this year.
The full list:
No. 4: Braylon Edwards
No. 5: Steve Hutchinson
No. 6: LaMarr Woodley
No. 7: Brandon Graham
No. 8: Chris Perry
No. 9: Anthony Thomas
No. 10: Leon Hall
No. 11: Chad Henne
No. 14: Denard Robinson
No. 15: Marlin Jackson
No. 16: Glen Steele
No. 17: David Baas
No. 18: Jourdan Lewis
No. 19: David Harris
No. 20: Ernest Shazor
No. 21: John Navarre
No. 22: Jake Butt
No. 23: David Molk
No. 24: Taco Charlton
No. 25: Jeremy Gallon