Whitehouse Junior Reggie Long Talks About the Early Recruiting Process

Whitehouse linebacker Reggie Long has four junior day invitations, including one event he attended this past weekend.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder attended Tulsa's junior day. The Golden Hurricane is one of several Division I FBS programs that has been in contact with Whitehouse's middle linebacker.

"It was good. I learned a lot," Long said. "The campus was nice and I got to see the facilities."

Long said he's received interest from Tulsa, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi State, SMU, Tulsa, Utah, Vanderbilt, and Washington State. He's also been invited to junior days at Miami (this weekend), Washington State (Feb. 16), Houston (TBD), and Texas State (TBD).

"Most of them are recruiting me on the outside because I'm kinda short, but I'm quick," Long said. "I'm looking into (attending this weekend's Miami junior day) right now. I believe I will."

Long hopes to soon receive his first offer, which seems a likelihood considering his list of junior day invitations and junior season production. He accumulated 80 tackles, six sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 12 pass breakups.

"I'm liking Michigan and Tulsa right now," Long said.

Long is a key piece of Whitehouse's 2014 class, which also includes quarterback Patrick Mahomes, receivers Jake Parker, Coleman Patterson, and Jaylon Dews, and cornerback Isaiah Burton. Long is one of maybe only four returning starters on the defensive side of the ball, joining Burton, sophomore cornerback Nate Brooks, and sophomore safety Justin Dunning, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound college prospect himself.

Long and company hope to build on a 2012 season that saw the Wildcats finish 10-2 with a second-round playoff appearance. Whitehouse will have a new coach in 2013 after Randy McFarlin's contract was not renewed.

"I'm thinking on the offensive side we'll be as good if not better than this year because of all the experience coming back," Long said. "On defense we're kinda regrouping."