[Elvis]

Not sure where to post this, maybe whatever happened to Frank Cignetti topic?

HUNTER LONG | Boston College 6050 | 254 lbs. | rJR. Exeter, N.H. (Deerfield) 8/19/1998 (age 22.69) #80

BACKGROUND: Hunter Long was born and raised in Exeter, N.H., (about 15 minutes from the Atlantic coast) and attended Exeter High School, playing tight end and defensive end. As a senior in 2015, he posted 30 catches for 508 yards and seven touchdowns in a power-run offense, adding a touchdown on defense and a score on special teams. Still a tad undersized, Long graduated from Exeter and decided to enroll at Deerfield Academy, a private school in western Massachusetts, for a postgraduate year. He earned Second Team All-State honors with 30 catches for 504 yards and two touchdowns at Deerfield in 2016. A three-star tight end recruit out of high school, Long was the No. 80 ranked tight end and the No. 7 recruit in the state of New Hampshire (didn’t rank among the top 1,500 recruits in the 2017 class). He received mostly FCS-level offers (Fordham, Holy Cross, New Hampshire, Rhode Island), but then northeast FBS programs started to take notice. Long committed to Boston College (his only Power 5 offer) over Connecticut and Massachusetts. He elected to skip his final season of eligibility to enter the 2021 NFL Draft. Long accepted his invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl, earning the top tight end award on the National team.

YEAR (GP/GS) REC YDS AVG TD NOTES
2017: Redshirted
2018: (12/0) 4 103 25.8 2
2019: (13/3) 28 509 18.2 2 Led team in receiving yards
2020: (11/11) 57 685 12.0 5 Second Team All-American; First Team All-ACC; Led FBS TEs in receptions
Total: (36/14) 89 1,297 14.6 9

HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP
COMBINE N/A (Combine canceled)
PRO DAY 6050 254 33 3/4 9 1/2 82 4.68 2.69 1.61 32 1/2 10’2” 4.42 7.41 - (no bench press – rib injury)

STRENGTHS: Solid height/weight/speed prospect…coordinated feet and body fluidity to break off sharp-angled routes…strong, accepting hands to cleanly receive the football away from his frame (only four drops on 101 catchable targets the last two seasons)…tracks downfield with terrific adjustment skills (doesn’t force his quarterback’s placement to be perfect)…steady focus with a defender on his hip, staying tough-minded through the catch…runs routes to proper depth and understands situational awareness…charts a physical path, not allowing defenders to alter his route…versatile blocker and was asked to do a little bit of everything…works hard to extend and stay balanced in pass pro…unassuming, intelligent individual with strong football character…his 57 receptions in 2020 led the FBS and was the second-most by a tight end in school history.

WEAKNESSES: Lacks the suddenness to easily uncover…the routes he put on his college tape aren’t going to fool NFL defenders…lacks the desired juice to be a dangerous weapon with the ball in his hands (27.9% of his 2020 receiving yards came after the catch)…inconsistent eyes and body technique as a move blocker, losing his positioning…lacks the upper-body power to sustain as a base-blocker vs. defensive ends in the pros…played through a rib injury during the 2020 season.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Boston College, Long was a high-volume target tight end in offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti’s pro-style scheme, lining up inline and detached. After sharpening his blocking skills his first three years in Steve Addazio’s power-run offense, his pass-catching skills were highlighted with the new coaching staff (and transfer quarterback Phil Jurkovec) in 2020; he rarely left the field and led the nation in receptions among tight ends. Long is a quarterback’s best friend with his field sense, focus in traffic and the way he rescues errant throws. His coordinated footwork and body movements show both as a route-runner and blocker, but he can do a better job as a route salesman and sustain player. Overall, Long isn’t a dynamic athlete, but he is a functional blocker and smooth passcatcher with the reliable hands to quickly earn the trust of his quarterback. He projects similar to an Austin Hooper-style tight end.

GRADE: 3rd-4th Round

[ramman2999]

I like Fuller.

[Elvis]

[actionjack]

Now Dixon is gone, so beyond trying to replenish our defense, we have to replace our entire special teams. Im sure this will be fine.

[Elvis]

Now Dixon is gone, so beyond trying to replenish our defense, we have to replace our entire special teams. Im sure this will be fine.

Chase Blackburn gonna earn his money this year...

[Elvis]

Don't think anyone is gonna cry about this but:

[actionjack]

Don't think anyone is gonna cry about this but:

Well my only issue is we lose more depth/experience. Rochell hasnt been able to beat him out . I imagine we will be drafting multiple db's in this draft.

[Elvis]

Powell to the Vikes:

[Haden]

Its amazing how much attrition we have had. I've never seen anything like it with any NFL team before.

[Elvis]