Spencer Long Selected in Third Round of NFL Draft

Lincoln - Offensive guard Spencer Long became the second Husker selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, as he was selected by the Washington Redskins in the third round on Friday evening.  Long was the 78th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and the 14th pick in the third round.

Long became the highest-drafted Husker linemen since Toniu Fonoti was chosen in the second round in 2002, and the highest drafted Husker offensive player since Brandon Jackson, a second-round pick in 2007. The 2014 season also marks the first time since 2007 that Nebraska has had two players selected in the top three rounds.

Long continues a tradition of Husker linemen getting picked in the draft, as he is the sixth Husker linemen picked since 2008. He is also the fifth Husker selected by the Washington Redskins in the last six drafts.

Originally a walk-on at Nebraska, Long started 33 straight games at right guard for the Huskers before a knee injury ended his 2013 season last October. Long started NU’s first six games, and NU averaged 284.8 rushing yards and 42.7 points per game.

During his junior campaign, he earned second-team All-America honors from the AP and Walter Camp Foundation, as Nebraska posted its best rushing average since 2002. A first-team All-Big Ten pick by the coaches and media in 2013, Long helped a pair of Huskers rush for 1,000 yards, as the Huskers reached the Big Ten title game.

Long is also an accomplished student, as he was a first-team Academic All-American in 2013, and one of 16 football players chosen as a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick, Long earned his degree in biological sciences/pre-medicine last December.

The third round of the NFL Draft is currently underway, while the fourth through seventh rounds will take place on Saturday.