Just under 20 minutes south of Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium is Lipscomb Academy, home of the Mustangs. It’s where Vanderbilt linebacker Bryan Longwell made his mark in high school, suiting up for the Mustangs before heading north to wear black and gold. 

Longwell played for longtime NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer at Lipscomb Academy. The 14-year NFL veteran now coaches the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While at Lipscomb, though, he and defensive coordinator Sione Ta’ufo’ou had a profound impact on Longwell. 

“[Dilfer] is a huge mentor to me,” Longwell told the Hustler. “He and coach [Ta’ufo’ou] just imposed how much knowledge you need to play football. It’s physical for sure, but you need to be in the film room too.”  

Drilling this philosophy into his players, Dilfer and his coaching staff transformed Lipscomb Academy into a Tennessee high school powerhouse, where success was systematic and expected. With Dilfer and Ta’ufo’ou leading their respective sides of the ball, the Mustangs dominated on the field. 

Lipscomb Academy boasted a staggering 37-4 record in Longwell’s last three seasons, including 14 shutouts and multiple wins by 50 points. In his senior season, the Mustangs’ defense allowed under a touchdown per game en route to a second-straight state title, dominating Christ Presbyterian Academy 42-0 in the championship game. That win also cemented the Mustangs among the top 15 private-school football programs nationwide. 

Longwell had a wildly successful and transformational high school football experience. Lipscomb Academy taught Longwell more than just the importance of the film room, it instilled within him a desire to play with passion and true dedication. 

“You just need to care about the game and love the game,” Longwell said. “[Dilfer and Ta’ufo’ou] taught me how to love the game and play the game the right way.” 

Lipscomb Academy’s demand for excellence made Longwell’s jump to Vanderbilt less of a shock. Longwell carried himself like a true veteran when he stepped on campus as a first-year. He earned snaps right away, appearing in all 12 games, quickly displaying his physicality. 

Longwell’s second start came early in his freshman season against the then-No.1 Georgia Bulldogs. Vanderbilt didn’t win, but Longwell left the field knowing he belonged in the SEC.  

“That’s when I realized there is a whole other level of physicality here,” Longwell said. “I had to guard Brock Bowers, and I was like, ‘Whoa, I’m actually here now, this is crazy.’” 

The Commodores closed a very forgettable 2023 season that November, boasting a shocking 2-10 record. Longwell, however, quietly stacked experience. He logged 36 tackles, including 18 solo efforts. The true freshman handled increasing responsibility in the middle of an SEC defense, positioning himself as a young leader in a hungry program. 

Longwell’s sophomore season was a phenomenal display of consistency. His 89 tackles led Vanderbilt and ranked eighth in the SEC. In the Commodores’ historic win versus No. 1 Alabama, Longwell tallied eight tackles — five of which were solo — and anchored a defense that successfully weathered the Crimson Tide.  

Vanderbilt’s progress was stark; the former “little brother” of the SEC looked stronger than ever. The Commodores played faster, tougher and far more connected — a testament to Lea’s demand for defensive aggression. Any Lipscomb Academy or Vanderbilt diehard fan could see it — the Commodores had taken on Longwell’s intelligent, disciplined and ‘ready to hit anyone in front of them’ mentality. 

Now, the Nashville native anchors the Commodores’ defense in what looks to be their best season in decades. Fans can spot him on nearly every defensive play, pointing out offensive schemes, motions and checks before the ball is snapped. 

“There’s only so much an offense can run, and you start to see the threads in between it all,” Longwell said. “You just recognize certain things an offense does, you start to understand it; [you] understand how they’re attacking you, why they’re lining up this way, why they’re motioning that. After a while, it just starts to click.” 

Longwell attributes this mastery of schematic cues to his significant playing time in college football’s hardest conference.  

“Honestly, it’s definitely a rep thing. It’s not really an active thought anymore, it’s just kind of natural,” Longwell said. 

Longwell has tried to find this natural feel for the game by modelling his actions after one of the great film savants of the modern era: Luke Kuechly. The former Carolina Panthers captain built a legendary career on obsessive film work and anticipation, earning a reputation as one of the smartest defensive players of his era. Kuechly was known for recognizing formations, listening for checks and calling out plays before they unfolded. 

That model resonates deeply with Longwell, as he dedicates hours a week to the film room to recognize things quickly on the field. Preparation like Kuechly’s slows down the game, giving the Commodores a massive edge as they anticipate future plays. But Longwell’s dedication to film has been instilled in him since he was a kid, even dating back to his days on the playground. 

“As a kid, I watched [Kuechly’s] highlight tape so much,” Longwell said. “He would know the other team’s checks before they would. It was crazy. I thought, ‘that’s my dream play style.’”

Longwell’s commitment to outright preparation is reflected in his sheer workload. Longwell has appeared in 31 games since arriving at Vanderbilt, with plenty more to come. The consistent playing time has made him one of Lea’s most reliable players. While the Commodores’ program rebuild brings them closer to dominant seasons, Longwell’s presence shows the standard for what the program is trying to become. 

“Being part of the reason why we are getting better and about to compete for big things is huge,” Longwell said. 

Longwell and his Commodores now get a chance to breathe this week. After a hard-fought battle against Alabama, their bye week comes at a convenient time as the road ahead gets very tough. The climb continues for the Commodores, but Longwell will need his linebacker group to study hard and play harder — exactly as he has always done it. 

Vanderbilt will gear up to face No. 11 LSU, No. 14 Missouri, Texas and Auburn in the next month. They will need Longwell, among others, to thrive to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.