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Get Scouted Scouting CareersTanner Long faces a dilemma most high school athletes would love to have.
Long, a 2018 National Scouting Report football prospect, must decide which sport — football or lacrosse — to play in college.
Yes, he’s that talented – make that multi-talented.
A 6-foot-2, 210-pound sophomore at Germantown Academy, a member of the prestigious Inter-Ac League in suburban Philadelphia, Long is two-year starting tight end/H-back/linebacker in football, earning second-team All-League honors at linebacker.
He’s also a two-year starting defenseman on the Germantown Academy lacrosse team and a key member of Duke’s Lacrosse, one of the nation’s premier lacrosse organizations.
On top of that, he boasts a 3.8 grade-point average in the classroom and scored an impressive 1190 out of 1520 on the PSAT.
Talk about a coach’s dream.
Long, a resident of Ambler, PA, would welcome the opportunity to play both sports in college, but realizes that may not be possible. Ultimately, he may have to make the toughest decision of his life: which sport to quit.
“It is my unwavering desire to compete as a collegiate student-athlete at a very high level,” Long wrote in his NSR personal message to college coaches. “I am an extremely focused and driven individual who has been raised to win each day. I also have been taught the power of hard work and determination in the classroom and on the field. I am willing to work harder than anyone to achieve my goals, and I have already proven to myself, my coaches and my peers that I have what it takes.”
Long, who amassed 183 tackles, 4 sacks and an interception in his first two varsity seasons, has made quite an impression on Germantown Academy head football coach Matt Dence.
“Tanner has been a two-sport starter since he arrived as a ninth grader at Germantown Academy,” Dence wrote in his personal evaluation. “He has been an impact player in both sports and, speaking personally, he has been a valuable leader and versatile player for our football team.
“On the football field, he has great instincts and natural ability on both sides of the ball. He is a natural linebacker with great instincts but can also rush the edge, be physical with his hands and make plays in both the run and pass game. He has tremendous ball skills and can catch the ball and carry the ball as an offensive player. It’s his versatility that sets him apart from other players.”
Dence has been equally impressed with Long’s work ethic, especially in the weight room, where he can bench 260 pounds, clean 245 and squat 385.
“Physically, he looks more like a college sophomore than a high school sophomore,” Dence wrote. “He has natural gifts, but it’s what he’s done with his gifts that has made the most positive impact. He loves the weight room and is not afraid of hard work. Because of that, he has the respect of his teammates and coaches. I could not recommend a player, student or person higher than I could recommend Tanner Long.”
Although graduation is still two years away, Long looks forward to the next chapter of his academic and athletic career. He plans to major in business and compete in one or both sports.
“I will do whatever my coaches tells me to the best of my ability,” he wrote. “I am a good teammate and respect the game. I love to compete. It is a passion that burns inside me during a game, practice or in the classroom. I truly believe I would be a tremendous asset to whatever school takes a chance on me.”
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.