North Carolina A&T has secured a key commitment from former Maryland quarterback Champ Long, who joins the Aggies via the transfer portal. His arrival brings much-needed reinforcement to the quarterback room after a string of injuries and marks a pivotal step in the program’s efforts to bounce back from a difficult 1-11 season in 2024.

The Aggies recently tapped former Fort Valley State head coach and longtime NC A&T assistant Shawn Gibbs to lead the program’s rebuild. Long’s addition gives Gibbs a potential difference-maker at quarterback as he looks to turn things around in his first season at the helm.

A native of Jersey City, NJ, Long spent two seasons at Maryland, where he saw limited playing time. He completed one pass for 10 yards in a 2024 appearance against Penn State and did not see game action as a freshman in 2023.

Despite limited college reps, Long boasts an impressive high school career at St. Peter’s Prep. He threw for over 4,500 yards and 51 touchdowns across two seasons, earning 2022 USA Today First Team All-New Jersey honors and finishing as a finalist for the state’s player of the year. As a senior, he completed 168 of 208 passes for 2,638 yards and 31 touchdowns, while also rushing for eight scores and averaging 40.1 yards per punt.

His transfer comes at a critical juncture for A&T. Starting quarterback KJ White suffered a major injury during spring practice, and veteran backup Alston Hooker is also sidelined. Long offers the Aggies a dual-threat option with Power Five experience and a proven track record of leadership and production at the high school level.

With a new head coach, a fresh outlook, and an experienced QB in the mix, North Carolina A&T is hoping to spark a resurgence in 2025.