On a football team in the Deep South, Lance Long stands out like, well, a yankee. Listen to him talk for a few minutes in his thick Michigan accent and you will realize quickly that he is not like the vast majority of his southern-speaking teammates.
“Lance talks crazy,” senior wide receiver Omarr Conner said. “We tease him a little bit, but he’s a good guy and a good athlete. I think when the fall rolls around, he’s going to be right there, maybe starting.”
Long, a junior from Macomb, Mich., never spent much time in the South before coming to the Bulldogs, but he seems to be enjoying the Southern culture as much as anyone.
“When I go home, my mom and dad notice that I’ve started picking up on the accent a little bit,” Long said. “I love it down here. I even told my mom yesterday that I was thinking of staying down here (after graduation).”
Long transferred to the Bulldogs last spring after playing his freshman year at Toledo. He said he left Toledo because things just weren’t working out but came to Mississippi State for a much more specific reason.
“I came down here for coach (Sylvester) Croom,” he said. “I’m from Michigan, so I’d seen him coach over at the Lions, and I always wanted to play in the SEC. He’s a great coach. I love what he’s trying to do for this program.”
Long played in every game last season, though in very limited roles and with only one start to his credit. This spring, however, he has been one of the shining examples of the Bulldogs’ revamped receiving core.
“Lance has had a great spring for us. He really understands the offense and where he fits in each of the concepts,” Croom said. “And he makes plays.”
Long led all receivers in the first spring scrimmage with five receptions for 73 yards. He followed that performance up with four catches and a touchdown in the second spring game, hauling in a 22-yard pass from starting quarterback Mike Henig for the score.
“(The coaches have) been giving me some opportunities this spring, and I feel comfortable out there; much better than last spring. Last spring I was still trying to learn the plays and everything. They expect a lot out of you.”
With the confidence of having made the transition from Toledo to Starkville successfully under his belt, the future seems bright for the emerging star, despite having to compete for time at such a crowded position.
“Right now Lance is probably in that top five or six guys and will definitely play,” Croom said. “He’ll probably be a role receiver, but we’ll see how things shake out.”