COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kevin Long, who played running back at South Carolina before getting drafted by the New York Jets, has died at age 69.
The university said Long died Tuesday. Curtis Frye, the former track coach at South Carolina who was a close friend of Long, spoke with Long’s wife and informed the university of his death. A cause of death was not provided.
Long, who was from Clinton, South Carolina, played with the Gamecocks from 1973-76 and became the first running back in program history to surpass 1,000 yards in a season with 1,133 in 1975.
Long is 10th on the school’s all-time rushing list with 2,372 yards. He is a member of the university’s athletic Hall of Fame along with the state of South Carolina’s Hall of Fame.
Long was taken by the Jets in the seventh round of the 1977 NFL draft. He played there five seasons, rushing for 2,190 yards and 25 touchdowns. He caught 74 passes for 539 yards and three TDs.
He finished his career in the USFL.