Tate Leading Rusher Long Has Some Giant Wofford Shoes To Fill

August 29, 2013

Tate graduate and  leading rusher Lorenzo Long is expected to be a stats leader for Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, this season, after the graduation of their all-time leading rusher Eric Breitenstein.

In fact, Long will wear the same No. 7 jersey, despite some belief that the Terriers would not issue that number, a sentiment that grew when it was absent during training camp.

Long said he was well-aware of the significance of No. 7 when he arrived on campus earlier this month.

“A lot of people were telling me about it and that I had big shoes to fill,” Long said. “I’m just going to do my best to get the job done. I’m not going to feel too much pressure. It’s just a number.”

If someone is to wear No. 7, perhaps it’s best that it be a freshman who never saw Breitenstein play. There were no returning players who offered to switch. And it also seems fitting that Long would be that one to wear it.

“He’s a young talent with a lot of potential,” said Donovan Johnson, who is taking over as the starting fullback in an offense that ranked second in the country last season. “He runs really hard. He’s going to be a good one in years to come.”

Long (5-foot-9, 205 pounds)  was the second-leading ground gainer in a recent scrimmage, going for 30 yards on four carries. Like Breitenstein, he has powerful legs that just keep churning and it takes a gang to make the tackle.

“Lorenzo is not afraid to drop the hammer on you,” Wofford head coach Mike Ayers said. “If you’re coming to tackle him, you’d better bring it because of the way he runs.”

“If there is a hole,” Long said, “I’ll try to accelerate through there. But if somebody is in my way, I’m going to have to give it to him.”

Long left Tate as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,227 yards and also scored 37 touchdowns. He was all-state for two years. A mixture of power and speed, Long also lettered four years in weightlifting and in track as a 100-meters runner and long-jumper. He also played three years of soccer as a goal-scoring forward. Add brains and leadership, too. Long was senior class president.

“He’s going to be a special guy,” Ayers said. “He’s got tremendous quickness, he’s got a burst, and he’s very, very strong. He’s a guy who muscles up to contact. When you tackle him, he’s going to make you pay. He also has very good lateral speed, excellent hands and blocks really well.”

“It was a little tough in the beginning,” Long said. “I feel more comfortable now with the playbook and how to run the plays. It’s pretty exciting.”

Breitenstein finished with 5,730 career rushing yards with 65 touchdowns. He owns three of the top four seasons in program history. Last year, he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award given to most outstanding player at the FCS level.

“Eric was his own guy. He had his own way,” Ayers said. “Lorenzo is also a guy who can play. He’s also a high character guy. He’s soft-spoken but a competitor, just like the No. 7 we had last year.”

No. 7 Wofford opens their regular season this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Baylor on Fox SportSouth. Lorenzo Long is the son of A.J. and Clara Long.

Story by Todd Shanesy, Spartanburg-Herald Journa, GoUpstate.com. Reprinted with permission.

Pictured top: Wofford fullback Lorenzo Long, in a No. 4 jersey during preseason, will take over No. 7 when the season starts. The No. 7 previously belonged to Wofford’s leading career rusher. Photo by Alex C. Hicks, Jr., Spartanburg-Herald Journal for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Tate Leading Rusher Long Has Some Giant Wofford Shoes To Fill”

  1. TyTy on August 29th, 2013 9:20 pm

    Make us proud up there Lo. Continue to work hard on the field and in the classroom, and keep God first. Don’t be good, be great. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men…” — Colossians 3:23

  2. go on August 29th, 2013 4:39 pm

    sounds like some young man has accomplished a great goal. young man go on to wafford and make tate high school proud. go aggies, and go long.

  3. thank you on August 29th, 2013 9:21 am

    Thank you Rhett. I’ve heard that stat many times, and it boggles my mind every time. I knew there was no way he had more yards at Tate ( overall yards MAYBE) than Marcus, and I’d be real interested to see how Shawn Cannon’s yards stack up, I don’t remember much from his first couple years, but I know he had a big senior year. Don’t know much about Dewitt, though. Anyways, thanks for setting the record straight. Good luck this season!

  4. Alandus Long on August 29th, 2013 9:18 am

    As a proud parent, Lorenzo has done remarkablly well as a young man. He maintained an above grade average of 3.3., and finsihed High school on time. He attends worhsip service each Sunday and loves the Lord. May God help him in his future endeavors at Wofford and hopefully beyond. (Isa. 54:17) ” No weapons formed against you shall prosper….”

  5. Rhett Summerford on August 29th, 2013 7:53 am

    Although Lorenzo was really really good he is not the all time rusher at Tate High School. There is a few before him that actually ran all four years they were there. ex. Marcus Elliot and Dewitt Dukes

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