Friendship's Long commits to Syracuse

From staff reports

Shortly after A.J. Long completes his senior season as Friendship Christian's quarterback, he'll be headed back to his native Northeast to play college football.

Long has committed to Syracuse University.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder had 4,600 yards and 63 total touchdowns as a sophomore in Bangor, Pa., before moving to Lebanon last summer.

As a Commander junior, the run-pass threat accounted for 2,946 yards and 51 touchdowns, with just one interception, in leading Friendship to a second straight state championship, earning him All-State honors by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.

Long also had offers from UCLA and Arizona, among several others. He had also attracted attention from many other BCS schools, including Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Duke and Ohio State.

He is the second commitment, the first quarterback, from the Class of 2014 for new Syracuse coach Scott Shafer, who was promoted from defensive coordinator when Doug Marrone was hired to coach the Buffalo Bills.

Syracuse will reportedly run the pistol offense, which is a version of the spread in which the quarterback lines up closer to the center than in the traditional shotgun, to utilize his run-pass talents. He plans to enroll next January and participate in spring practice.

Long's commitment is legally non-binding until he officially signs scholarship papers.

With Long's future apparently settled, local attention may be turned toward Watertown quarterback Ty Jobe, who had been making some of the same recruiting visits as Long.

His father, Shavez Jobe, said schools are looking at his 6-2 son as an athlete. He plans to play receiver in some 7-on-7 leagues to give colleges a look on video.

Further down the road, Wilson Central's Gabe Angel visited Tennessee the same weekend as Long and Jobe a few weeks ago and reportedly received an offer from the Vols, joining Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Mississippi State as teams to offer the 6-3 freshman who played receiver/wingback in the Wildcats' Wing-T offense last fall.

Like Jobe, Angel, who has visited Alabama, is being recruited as an "athlete" by most schools. He is a member of the graduating class of 2016.