4-Star David Long Jr. Opens Up on Top 10, Making Move from WR to CB

David Long Jr. has several years of experience playing wide receiver. The idea of playing cornerback shouldn't have come so easily for him.

Not that easy, anyway.

But it did. And now, the 4-star cornerback from Los Angeles' Loyola High School boasts 23 offers from coast to coast. Thursday afternoon, Long announced his top 10, which includes five schools from the Pac-12, two from the Big Ten, an independent in Notre Dame and one each from the Big 12 and ACC.

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"Top 10" pic.twitter.com/7nUiikIWC4

— David Long Jr. (@dee_knowz) June 11, 2015"

"They are the schools that I've built the best relationships with early," Long said of the 10. "The relationships built really have been set in stone for me; plus, with some of the local schools, I know a lot of the players and the atmospheres.

"The schools I haven't visited, I like what they are doing right now. I'm trying to make some visits this summer."

Long is the nation's No. 6 cornerback and the No. 64 overall player. He put on an impressive showing at The Opening Oakland regional last month, running the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, throwing the power ball 36 feet and recording a vertical jump of 35.9 inches.

After measuring at 5'10" and 176 pounds, Long recorded a SPARQ rating of 114.36 and then dominated the secondary drills to claim the defensive back MVP honor and an invitation to The Opening finals next month in Beaverton, Oregon.

For someone fresh off one year of playing cornerback, Long looks like a cagey veteran in the secondary. Long credited the smooth transition from playing receiver to working on foot placement and advanced techniques to improve speed, lateral movement and acceleration.

Playing receiver helped, as well.

"I love the move. Before you guard a route, you have to be able to run a route," Long said. "I can look at a receiver now and tell what type of route he's going to run."

Long's talents as someone who can play both sides of the ball will benefit one lucky school. His 247Sports Crystal Ball points to predictions for Washington (50 percent), USC (33 percent) and Stanford (17 percent).

Before he makes a choice, however, Long said he wants to see the schools he's yet to visit. So far, Long has visited USC, UCLA, Stanford and Washington. He's hoping trips to Notre Dame and Michigan are in his immediate future.

"A lot of schools said they would take me as an athlete, and I'm fine with that, but I've been exclusively working as a cornerback," Long said. "If I can get out to a few schools, maybe I'll commit then, and there won't be a need for official visits.

"If I can't get out to those schools, I'll take them on officials before signing day."

Long has a top 10 but doesn't have an order of schools. He said he'll look to trim the list possibly later in the summer.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles