It was nearly one year ago to the day when St. Peters Prep (NJ) quarterback Robert ‘Champ’ Long announced his commitment and a visit to Florida State. Fast-forward to today and the three-star prospect is fresh off an official visit to Maryland alongside his dad and godfather in what he called “the most eye-opening experience I’ve ever had.”
“I’ve been to quite a few colleges over the past 3.5 years in high school and nothing, nothing I experienced compared to what I experienced this past weekend,” Long told Inside the Black and Gold. “Being with the players, spending time with them with some of the freshmen and building the relationships with the coaches. That was just something great.”
Freshman linebacker Caleb Wheatland and redshirt freshman running back Roman Hemby hosted Long on his official visit as he got yet another extended tour of his future home. “Just spending time with them, kind of getting an insight into how they do things over there in College Park. It just made it more comfortable. Obviously they work hard but also they take pride in having fun with each other off of campus,” he added. Academics and life after football opportunities within the DMV was a big pitch for the uncommitted prospects on campus, while Long got a chance to get a closer look at the day-to-day of the program under head coach Mike Locksley.
“Just that family factor that takes place at Maryland, there’s nothing like it. I’m really big on family and relationships just as Maryland is, that right there was really the deciding factor for wanting to commit so early. They just showed that family factor was so big down there at Maryland that I knew once these four years were up on high school ball, my family knew that this was going to be my second family. I was in good hands.”
Long added he spent “equal time with all the coaches” on the visit but one of the highlights was spending time with co-offensive coordinator Dan Enos. “Given his past and who he’s coached in the past, who he’s put into the next level and to sit down and have a conversation with him and know that he believes in me, he sees something in me means a lot to me. That’s what makes my situation and being there next year so much better.”
While Maryland added their third commitment this cycle after McDonogh interior lineman Tamarus Walker went public on Sunday, Enos and the offensive staff had a clear message for Long on his visit. “I think he just wanted me to know that I’m your guy. As long as I put in the work, believe in them, believe in the process that no doubt they’ll put me to the next level and develop me as a man and player.”
In addition to recruiting Bergen Catholic (NJ) three-star edge rusher DJ Samuels who will officially visit this month, there’s another prospect that visited who Long is recruiting to College Park.
“There’s a receiver, Cam Seldon. He’s 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4, I know that if we were to get him in College Park for the next four [years], I have no doubt any ball that’s thrown his way he’ll catch and he’ll turn anything into a positive.”
Long is rated a three-star prospect and an 85 overall by On3, sitting as the 18th-best prospect in New Jersey.
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