Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

University of New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell is certain defensive lineman Jordan Long will be ready to contribute on the field in Saturday's NCAA playoff game at Villanova. McDonnell is not nearly as certain about Steve Young's status.

Young, a junior defensive tackle, injured his shoulder during a victory over Maine on Nov. 21 and missed all but two plays when UNH opened the NCAA playoffs with a 49-13 triumph over McNeese State last Saturday.

 "He's getting better and better," McDonnell said. "We're gonna go to game time with this, seeing how he feels. I got a feeling he'll be better than he was last week."

"It's getting better," Young added. "It's a lot better than it was last week. We've made a lot of progress so I'm hoping I'll be able to play."

Saturday's UNH/Villanova contest (3:30 p.m.) will be the second time the teams have met this season. UNH (10-2) posted a 28-24 victory in Durham on Oct. 10. It's the only blemish on Villanova's record (11-1).

Earler this week McDonnell announed that Long had been cleared to play after a serving a five-week suspension.

"We played five games without him," McDonnell said." That last game he played against Hofstra was probably the best football game he had played.

"Here's a kid who's been in our program for five years. We're excited about having him back. He's done everything we've asked him to do in the five weeks that he's been away from this program. I'm happy for him.

Long, who was suspended for violating team policy and academic department policy following UNH's victory at Hofstra on Oct. 24, has practiced with the team for the last three weeks.

Long has recorded 21 tackles (14 unassisted) and one sack in six games this season. He played in each of UNH's 13 games last season.

"He's not gonna start," McDonnell said. "The guys that have been playing are the guys that are gonna go, but, at the same time, he's gonna get some snaps."