Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, PA has been kind to the Pitt football program in the past. One of Pitt’s best players in the last decade, running back LeSean ‘Shady’ McCoy, was a McDevitt product. Within the last few weeks, Pitt extended an offer to another Crusader, 2016 defensive tackle Anthony Long (6-foot-3 inches, 295 pounds).
Long has received scholarship offers from Pitt, Connecticut, Maryland, Temple, Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Purdue and Old Dominion. He possesses Herculean strength. Anthony bench presses 365 pounds and squats 415 pounds.
“Pitt came by my school two weeks ago. They told me they just wanted to get to know me. The coaches watched me work out that day,” he said. “One week later I was offered a scholarship. They told me they want to get me to Pitt. It was a pretty quick turnaround from first meeting to scholarship offer. The process went fast.”
Long was named to the first-team Mid-Penn All-star offensive line as a sophomore. He was asked to highlight his strengths as a defensive tackle and he stated, “I really can do anything that coaches ask me to do. I can a 3-tenchnique nose tackle then move down to defensive end. I’m a versatile lineman.”
“I’m usually two steps ahead of the offensive lineman in front of me. The mental aspects of the game are important to me. Because I’m usually a step or two ahead, I’m not worried about what the offensive does.”
Long will attempt to visit Pitt, Temple and Maryland this summer. He stated that Michigan State has been in close contact with him.
“I have high interest in Pitt. They are close to home and they have a good football program,” he said. “I like the exposure you get there as well. Aaron Donald was proof of that. “
“I’m going to stay patient with the process and see what offers come my way this summer. I’m going to give Pitt strong consideration.”
Harry G. Psaros can be found on Twitter at @PittGuru