Born to play quarterback

Malcolm Long Quarterback Malcolm Long wasn't born with a football in his right hand.

It just seems that way.

With a rifle arm, poise under pressure and uncanny decisionmaking ability, Long is the picture of a modern-day quarterback. After leading Gaffney High to consecutive state championships, he's playing the part at South Carolina State.

Long completed 16 of his 24 throws for 211 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs' win over Bethune Cookman Saturday in the Low Country Classic at Charleston.

"It was my best game so far," Long said.

His biggest game so far will be when he leads his Bulldogs into Clemson's Death Valley on Saturday for a clash with the nationally-ranked Tigers. Long admits the Memorial Stadium environment will be a bit intimidating.

"I played against (South Carolina) last year but I came in as a backup," he said. "I'll be a little nervous as a starter this year playing in front of that many people."

Long knows playing against a talented Tiger defense will be a challenge.

"Clemson is real good," he said. "A lot of the guys I've played with in high school. I just look at it as another football game that I can help my team win."

After spending his freshman year behind senior Cleveland McCoy, Long was handed the keys to the offense this season.

"Last year really helped me playing behind a senior," he said. "He taught me the different scenarios of what to expect."

Significant development - physically and mentally - took place in the offseason. Long gave up his junk food cravings and began a running regiment to trim his frame from 265 pounds to 245 pounds.

He also developed a bond with the team's new strength and conditioning coach to improve his quickness in the pocket.

"I can run around the pocket a little bit more," Long said.

Long spent hours watching film with the team's new quarterbacks coach to get a better grasp of the offense.

"I'm very confident right now," Long said. "I think I've come a long way since the first game."

Long completed a more than respectable 13 of 21 passes in the season opener against Central Florida, but the Bulldogs left Orlando with a humbling loss.

A week later in a 42-3 win over Benedict, Long connected on 13 of his 19 passes for 173 yards and two scores.

For the season, Long has completed 44 of his 69 passes for 484 yards and three touchdowns.

But there's still one step left in the development of Long's game - calling his own plays at the line of scrimmage.

"The coaches are trying to get me to call stuff on the field like (Tom) Brady and Peyton Manning to get us in the best possible play," Long said. "That just comes from a whole lot of film study. I can get better at it."