'This place gave me everything': Robert Longerbeam left it all out on field for Rutgers football
The Rutgers football team has long been a group that has prided itself on defensive prowesses, producing talents like Devin McCourty, Jason McCourty and Logan Ryan. When it came time for senior defensive back Robert Longerbeam’s decision about where to continue his football playing career, he didn’t know what side of the ball to choose, nor did he know he would become a Scarlet Knight.
Longerbeam played his high school football career at Alexandria City High School, formerly known as T.C Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where he earned himself a three-star recruit rating. As a high school athlete Longerbeam was not just the defensive player that many Rutgers fans know him as today. Defensive back, wide receiver and even quarterback were the list of positions Longerbeam played.
After his four years in high school, Longerbeam was recruited by then defensive backs coach at Temple, Fran Brown, to come play for the Owls. When Brown got the secondary coach position for the Knights in the 2019 offseason, Longerbeam followed suit and flipped his commitment to play on the Banks.
At this point, Longerbeam had found his home for the next four years but was unsure of where his home would be on the field. With the uncertainty of a global pandemic, the unique challenges of being a college freshman and the stress of playing college football, Longerbeam faced an uphill battle.
“Covid was crazy because I was calling my mom like, I can’t do this, nobody told me college was like this,” Longerbeam said. “So it was hard mentally. But then, once I started playing football, it was fun.”
Through his first training camp, there was still uncertainty about where Longerbeam would find himself on the field. After taking reps on both sides of the ball and taking advantage of the situation presented to him, Longerbeam found his home in the defensive backfield.
“Coach Fran always wanted me at DB,” Longerbeam said. “As soon as he got the chance to move me over because of some injuries, he moved me over."
From there, it has been improvement year after year for Longerbeam, making one start at cornerback his freshman year, six in his sophomore campaign and a combined 23 starts between his junior and senior seasons.
As if playing D1 football in a conference like the Big Ten is not challenging enough, it is a tall task to follow in the footsteps of players like the McCourty brothers, Max Melton, and Trey Avery, who have set the standard for Rutgers defensive backs.
“I just wanted to keep the tradition going,” Longerbeam said. “There’s a lot of great NFL DBs that I look up to. I used to watch the McCourty brothers… then my boy Max (Melton) went last year and got drafted, so I wanted to keep following in those footsteps.”
Despite his talent on the field, Longerbeam's impact off the field is something that his fellow players and coaches notice even more. Before the start of his final season, Longerbeam was named a team captain, an honor that he strives to uphold in everything on and off the field.
“It's a tremendous honor, especially with all the great leaders we have,” he said. “So like me being chose, it was an amazing feeling, and I just never want to disappoint them in that role. So everything I got I gave it, day in and day out.”
Longerbeam has left a lasting impression on the program with so many memorable moments throughout his career. Whether it was through big tackles, interceptions in the clutch or making simple plays when necessary, he has done it all. With so much to look back on, Longerbeam sees his time as a Knight as a success.
"It was a great experience, It was amazing," he said. "The coaches, my teammates, my brothers for life. (I've) found some of my best friends that I ever have, here. So this place gave me everything. The birthplace of college football gave me everything and I'm so thankful for them."
Longerbeam is looking to end his career with a win as Rutgers is set to take on Kansas State in the Rate Bowl next Thursday. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN and WRSU-FM.
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