By STEVE HEISER
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At 22 years old, Brayden Long has already solved an equation for life success that eludes many folks, even after decades of searching.
It’s his own formula, mixing heavy doses of faith, family and football, along with a fierce focus on academic achievement. During his standout playing career at New Oxford High School and Slippery Rock University, that combination produced some extraordinary results.
Now, Long is ready to move on to the next chapter in his young life. He’ll face new challenges, but he’ll still lean heavily on the tried-and-true values that made him a star quarterback.
Long has decided he wants to mentor college football’s next generation as a coach. He’s determined to attack his new role the same way he attacked his old one.
“I want to grind and work my way up to being a head coach someday,” he said. “I’m shooting for the stars.”
Long knows that his journey to the stars will start at the bottom rung of the coaching ladder, likely as a graduate assistant or quality control analyst. He’s already sent out some feelers and received some encouraging feedback. He’s hoping to land a coaching job by this spring.
“I really wanted to be around college athletics,” Long said. “It’s where my passion is. … I want to pay back football and what it’s given me by helping the next generation of athletes.”
The program that eventually hires Long will employ a young man with a resume packed with accomplishments, both on and off the field.
An impressive football resume: At New Oxford, Long was a three-sport standout in football, basketball and baseball. He finished his all-state prep football career with 6,595 passing yards and 67 passing touchdowns, giving him, at the time, the Adams County records in both categories. In the classroom, he was a member of the National Honor Society.
Those achievements earned Long a couple NCAA Division I offers, but he eventually signed on with NCAA Division II powerhouse Slippery Rock, which is in western Pennsylvania, about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh.
It’s a decision that he never regretted, despite seeing little playing time during his first three years with the program.
“I had the chance to compete for the starting job as a freshman. I lost that job … but I took it as a challenge and an opportunity,” Long said. “I never thought about getting in the (transfer) portal. I believe in seeing things through. I learned from those guys in front of me and it paid off in my last two years as starter.”
Those last two years were something to behold. He led “The Rock” to consecutive 12-2 seasons, including an NCAA D-II quarterfinal berth in 2023 and a semifinal appearance in 2024. Slippery Rock’s 2024 season, and Long’s college career, ended with a 48-38 loss to a Ferris State team that went on to win the national D-II crown. The win vs. Slippery Rock was Ferris State’s closest game during its playoff run. “The Rock” finished ranked No. 3 in the nation in D-II.
Long finished his Slippery Rock career as the program’s all-time leader in career completions (631) and completion percentage (67). He’s also second in program history in career TD passes (64) and career passing yards (7,527).
Those statistics helped him become a two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, given to the best player in all of D-II football.
Long’s commitment and contributions to the Slippery Rock program didn’t go unnoticed by his head coach, Shawn Lutz.
“Brayden is a guy that went against the trends in college football right now,” Lutz said on the Slippery Rock football website. “Instead of transferring when he didn’t start his first two years, he stuck with our program, kept learning and working hard and has now become one of the best quarterbacks in program history. Not only is he an exceptional football player, but he is an even better student and person.”
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Excelling off the field: The “student and person” that Long has become shows up repeatedly in his off-the-field accomplishments at Slippery Rock.
He was named a 2024 national finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which goes to the college football player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance. It is considered by many to be the “Academic Heisman.” Long was the only D-II player among the 16 Campbell finalists honored during a ceremony in Las Vegas. He received a post-graduate scholarship worth $18,000 from Fidelity Investments. The eventual Campbell winner was Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
Long graduated from Slippery Rock in May of 2024 with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, earning a degree in sport management with a minor in leadership. He then enrolled as a post-graduate student in the physical activity and fitness management program in the fall of 2024 while playing his final season of collegiate football.
His off-the-field achievements at Slippery Rock weren’t just confined to the classroom.
He co-launched “Team ROCK,” a student-athlete-led ministry on campus, while he also served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. His volunteer efforts include participating in the Special Olympics, the American Cancer Society Relay of Life, Read Across America and assisting with youth sports in Slippery Rock and in his hometown of New Oxford.
Faith and family: Long is quick to admit that his success story was not written alone.
His faith has played a huge role.
“I rely a lot on my faith and my relationship with God,” Long said. “I felt very called to get away from playing and very called to get into coaching and impact the game in a different way. … I’m leaning on my faith and trust in God to lead me down the right path.”
Long also is determined to be a good husband and a father. He knows that a coaching career, with its time and travel demands, will make that challenging.
“I’m definitely aware of what comes with coaching and I’m ready for it,” he said. “In coaching it’s important to have a balance with family life, while also maintaining my relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Alongside his faith, Long also says he has an incredibly strong support system at home with his parents, Chris and Kathy.
“My entire life they’ve been my No. 1 supporters,” Long said. “(What they’ve done for me), it leaves me speechless to this day. They’ve been my rock. I wouldn’t be where I am without them, that’s for sure.”
Giving up playing to focus on coaching: Long did give some consideration to attempting a pro football career.
It is rare, but not unheard of, for D-II quarterbacks to make it in the NFL.
Long’s individual statistics and team success at Slippery Rock were certainly worthy of attention from pro scouts, and he boasts bona fide NFL size (6 foot, 3 inches, 220 pounds).
However, after his recent internship at Westminster College in that school’s athletic department, and some conversations with his parents and his support system, Long decided that his future would be in coaching.
He already has experience in that realm, working with many young players in Adams County over the years, including New Oxford quarterback Luke Frey.
Long also believes his leadership qualities, which were first developed at New Oxford under head coach Jason Warner, will serve him well in his next endeavor.
“I think I have shown the ability to make everyone around me better,” he said.
If Long reaches his ultimate goal, and becomes a college football head coach, he knows that the seeds for that success were planted in Adams County. He kept that idea in the front of his mind while excelling at Slippery Rock.
“I wanted to do it for New Oxford and do it for the younger kids there,” he said. “I wanted to be a good role model for them and be a positive influence on their lives.”
He also has some good advice for those young athletes – advice he wishes he could have given to his younger self a decade ago.
“Have fun and take everything day by day,” he said. “There are times when you want to look ahead or look back. Instead, be grateful for the moment that you’re in. For good or bad, it will mold you into the man you will become.”
The man that Long has become is ready for the next step in a new and exciting journey. It’s one he feels ready for, largely because of the local support he’s received from family, friends and coaches.
“I haven’t done this by myself,” he said. “It’s been an awesome journey. I’m blessed.”
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Steve Heiser is a lifelong Adams County resident who has nearly four decades of sports journalism experience as a reporter and editor.
Best of luck to a outstanding, amazing athlete and person. His family support team is the best!