Long was the first player in Lapeer East High School history to earn All-State "Dream Team" honors in football from the Detroit News.

[6] That season, he helped lead Lapeer East to an unbeaten 14–0 Metro League record (17–3) overall as they prepared for the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) tournament.

At the conclusion of the camp, Michigan Wolverines football head coach Lloyd Carr offered him a scholarship as an offensive tackle.

[14][15] That season, the football team set a school record by posting a nine-game winning streak, which started after an October 6, 2001, loss the prior year.

[17] The team's 9–2 record was the best in school history,[8] and Long was again chosen as an All-Metro League selection on both offense and defense.

[21] Long was again first-team All-Metro League,[22] and he was selected as an honorable mention 2003 Associated Press Class A All-State basketball player.

As a freshman, Long was on the 2003 Michigan Wolverines football team roster,[26] but Tony Pape and Adam Stenavich were the starting offensive tackles.

[29] On June 16, 2004, following his freshman year, he was hospitalized in an intensive-care unit for smoke inhalation injuries when a house rented by nine Michigan Wolverine players caught fire.

Later at the hospital, Long underwent procedures that required tubes be put down his throat to suction black phlegm from his lungs.

[34] He was released from the University of Michigan Medical Center and was able to spend Father's Day (June 20) back in Lapeer.

[29] Kolodzieg started the first two games, but Michigan averaged only 85.5 yards rushing, which ranked 94th nationally among 117 Division I teams.

[43] By the time Michigan was preparing for the 2005 Rose Bowl, the team was averaging 156.18 rushing yards per game, which ranked 56th in the nation.

[33] Long earned a second team All-Big Ten Conference recognition from the coaches, while linemates guard Matt Lentz, tackle Adam Stenavich and tight end Tim Massaquoi were first-team selections.

[48] In August 2005, Long suffered an ankle injury and was sidelined as the 2005 Michigan Wolverines football team's season began.

[49] The injury had been caused in training camp when he was zone blocking alongside center Mark Bihl, who got tangled up with nose tackle Gabe Watson.

[54] He appeared in the subsequent rivalry game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, and during the first play, he opposed Bobby Carpenter who broke his leg.

[60] He was on the preseason Outland Trophy watch list along with Levi Brown, Joe Thomas, Justin Blalock, and Herbert Taylor.

[61] Long was considered the heart of the Michigan offense,[62] and his teammates voted the redshirt junior to be a co-captain along with senior Woodley.

[68] By mid-November, Michigan had flourished under the new system with an 11–0 record,[69] and some of the credit for the success was attributed to Long, the team captain and offensive leader.

[70] Long was also part of a Michigan record-setting three American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Team selections along with Woodley and Leon Hall.

[80] Michigan opposed the 2006 USC Trojans football team in the 2007 Rose Bowl and the offensive line that had surrendered 18 quarterback sacks in the first 12 games, allowed 6 in the 32–18 loss to finish the season 11–2.

[82] Long was a co-captain of the 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team,[83] and he again began the season on the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists.

[91] As Michigan won its next eight games, Long was described in the press as the team's most valuable player and an offensive lineman who should be considered for the Heisman Trophy since he was likely to be the first overall pick in the NFL draft.

[116] His 37 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press tied Vernon Gholston for the highest total at the 2008 NFL Combine.

[117] In addition to being one of eight offensive tackles drafted in the first round that year,[118] Long was only the 3rd offensive tackle ever to be taken with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, after Hall of Famer Orlando Pace (1997, a 5-time All-Pro and All-Decade team for the 2000s) and Hall of Famer Ron Yary (1968, an 8-time All-Pro and All-Decade team for the 1970s).

[127] However, after he failed his physical exam, Mormino was released from the team,[128] and before training camp Long was assigned number 77.

The Dolphins hired new coach Tony Sparano and employed Bill Parcells as Executive Vice President in charge of football operations.

[132] According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, at the end of training camp, Long was one of three rookies listed as first-string on the depth chart.

[139] He was not selected to the first team All-Pro losing out to Ryan Clady, who gave up 8 sacks, and Joe Thomas, who was ranked the best offensive tackle in the NFL.

[151][152] At the October 6, 2013, contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Rams gave the first 15,000 fans to arrive at the game free Jake Long figurines.