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West Virginia’s already depleted defensive backfield took another hit earlier today, as redshirt senior safety Jake Long announced his decision to enter the transfer portal.
I have made the decision to enter the transfer portal and weigh my options on where I will finish the last year of my football career. Thank you to everyone who helped me at wvu and throughout my time in college. Thank you to the fans for all the love you guys have showed me.
— Jake long (@Long22J) May 11, 2021
After redshirting as true freshman and missing his entire redshirt sophomore season with a wrist injury, Long primarily added depth to the West Virginia secondary. The Columbus, Ohio native played in a total of 24 games over three active seasons, finishing his career as a Mountaineer with just 12 tackles — including a career high three tackles against the Army Black Knights in the 2020 Liberty Bowl.
Long joined the Mountaineers as part of the 2016 recruiting class, in which he received a three-star (0.8355) composite rating from 247Sports. He is the eighth defensive back — and twentieth athlete — to leave the Mountaineer football program this offseason.
The departure leaves Neal Brown with twelve scholarship defensive backs, including the four that signed with the Mountaineers in the 2021 recruiting class.