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How Rutgers football WR Chris Long overcame ‘a bumpy road’ on the way to big game vs. Akron

PISCATAWAY – Chris Long knew he wasn’t done. He knew had more to contribute to the Rutgers football team.

The wide receiver knew he wanted to come back for another season despite the injuries that had derailed his previous seasons in a Scarlet Knights uniform.

“It’s definitely been a process,” Long said. “I had a lot of thinking to do. A lot of thinking over these past months. I just wasn’t ready (to stop).”

Long proved it in Rutgers’ 49-17 win over Akron on Saturday at SHI Stadium.

The Willingboro native finished with four catches for 87 yards with one touchdown, hauling in a 58-yard catch from quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis with just more than three minutes to go in the third quarter.

Rutgers football wide receiver Chris Long has overcome ‘a bumpy road’

“Chris has had a bumpy road for sure,” coach Greg Schiano said. “We’ve had a lot of serious, good talks over the years. But he just made a decision that he was going to – it can be discouraging when all those things keep happening to you. He just made up his mind that he was going to come back and give it everything he had with no regrets and see where the chips fall. Happy for him he’s having success.”

Rutgers football wide receiver Chris Long caught four passes for 87 yards in the Scarlet Knights’ 49-17 win over Akron at SHI Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

This success didn’t come easily – Long was limited to just one game all of last season because of injuries.

But walking away from football?

Long refused to make that his reality.

“This is how I’m going to provide for my family,” Long said. “This is how I’m going to provide for my daughter. I really just have to lock in and take it day by day and not think too far ahead and take care of what I’ve got to take care of in the moment. That’s really what I’ve been living by…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rutgers-football-wr-chris-long-080248598.html

Author : App.com | Asbury Park Press

Publish date : 2024-09-08 08:02:48

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

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