Port Neches-Groves quarterback Dustin Long probably doesn’t have a difficult time imagining how it would feel to lead his team to the winning touchdown in a monumental game played at Kyle Field.
That’s old hat to Long, whose late-game heroics in an early December playoff game at Kyle Field propelled the Indians past Schertz Clemens and into the Class 4A Division II state title game.
“He made himself at home at Kyle Field,” Port Neches-Groves head coach Matt Burnett said. “I hope that bodes well for his future in Aggieland. I know he’s excited about being at A&M.”
Likewise, the Aggies are excited about Long’s arrival. In leading the Indians to the state title game, Long probably proved to be the best pure passer in the state. Overall, Long threw for 3,150 yards and 29 touchdowns, while completing 215-of-385 pass attempts. He also rushed for 620 yards and 12 scores.
But none of those numbers came as a surprise to the A&M coaches, who first were impressed by Long’s performance at the Aggies’ camp.
“I think Dustin’s best years are ahead of him from a physical development standpoint,” said A&M offensive coordinator and new quarterbacks coach Steve Kragthorpe. “He’s a tall kid, over 6-3 and he’s starting to grow into that frame. We had him in our camp and know he can make the throws we need him to make.”
He proved to have pinpoint accuracy throughout the 1999 season. And perhaps just as importantly, Long proved to have an understanding of all the offensive complexities involved in the passing game.
Of course, understanding the passing game is almost second nature for the son of a coach. Long’s father, Mike, is the Port Neches-Groves offensive coordinator.
“He has a real good understanding of the passing game and how the secondary works and where the open people will be based on certain coverages,” Burnett said. “He’s a real student of the game.
“Because of his father and all the games he has played in, he really understands the intricacies and fine details of the passing game and offensive football in general. He’s also so mentally tough. And just being a coach’s son, he has had to prove himself above and beyond what other kids might have to do. That’s made him very tough.”
Long was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Indians, playing 37 games in that span. And with each game, Burnett says, he seemed to develop a little more composure in the pocket. By the time he was a senior, Long was practically like a coach in the huddle.
“What he did was allow us to reach the state finals with a real average football team because of his passing ability,” Burnett said. “Because of his accuracy as a passer, we were able to keep teams off-balance. He makes such smart decisions and can find the open receiver.
“In critical situations, he is at his best. He has the poise to keep his focus and work through difficult situations. He’s not a real vocal leader or screamer or anything like that. He’s a team guy, who doesn’t like a lot of attention to be drawn to him. But because of his competitiveness, experience and his success, he’s a natural leader.”
A&M fans hope that he will be a natural fit in College Station. Long, who will major in some type of computer technology at A&M, understands the situation he is coming into at A&M. He knows he will be competing with three young quarterbacks — Vance Smith, Mark Farris and Colby Freeman — for the starting job.
All Long wants, Burnett says, is an opportunity to prove himself.
“He’s not asking for special privileges, making big promises or anything like that,” Burnett said. He just wants an opportunity to compete for the job.”
QUOTABLE
He really enjoyed Coach Slocum. He wasn’t sure where he was going when he visited A&M, but he really was impressed with Coach Slocum’s down-home honesty. He was sold on the fact that he was going to be given a chance to compete.” — coach Matt Burnett
NOTABLE
Long had great workouts at the Texas A&M and Texas summer camps with most of the top quarterbacks in the state present. During the season, Long had more impressive numbers than both The Woodlands’ Chance Mock (signed with Texas) and Jacksonville’s Luke McCown (signed with Louisiana Tech).
COMMENT
The son of an offensive coordinator, Long has the savvy to go along with his arm strength. It will be interesting to see how quickly he can adapt to the speed of the college game, but he will be given an opportunity to compete for immediate playing time.
http://www.12thmanfoundation.com/mag/Vol5/vol5no02/recruits/dustin_long.html
