Michigan Wolverines Football: 30 greatest players of all-time

Jake Long grew up in Lapeer, Michigan, so it made sense that he would play his college ball for the Wolverines. A three-sport star in high school, Long was offered a scholarship by Lloyd Carr as a junior, while attending the Michigan football camp. Carr saw something special in him, and boy, was he right.

Long took a redshirt during the 2003 season, but did travel with the team to the Rose Bowl in 2004. A couple of games into his redshirt freshman season, Long finally cracked the starting lineup. He would not relinquish his spot the rest of his college career.

A two-time All-American during his time in the Maize and Blue, Long was also a First-Team All-Big Ten selection twice, while helping the team to a Big Ten title in 2004. One of the best offensive linemen in the Big Ten during the 2000s, Long would end up being the first overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins selected him to be the anchor of their offensive line for years to come.

While Long was a four-time Pro Bowl player during his NFL career, all of his success came with the Dolphins, who he played for up until the 2013 NFL season. He even got to block for Chad Henne in Miami, as the Dolphins made the signal-caller their second-round pick in that same draft. Long may be the best offensive lineman in Michigan history.