Christian Langford made his college decision this past weekend after a great official visit. It is important to document his journey which included several stops across Metro Atlanta. His journey started at Westlake as a true freshman before transferring to East Coweta where he earned the starting job there before stops at Buford and Collins Hill. It certainly wasn’t easy for Langford as he has endured a lot over the course of his prep career but it has made him a better man and player on the field.
“Everybody doesn’t have your best interest. But no matter the situation, stay humble and hungry. If I could have done anything different, I definitely would have stayed at East Coweta and finished there. Great program, great coaches, and a great school. Nothing bad about that program at all,” said Langford.
At East Coweta, he had a great sophomore campaign throwing for 2,066 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also rushed for 452 yards and three touchdowns. During that sophomore season, he had one of his favorite moments over the course of his prep career.
“In my 10th grade year, East Coweta vs Lowndes, I threw for 362 yards and five touchdowns. I also caught a 24-yard TD and completed 21/28 passes. Great game by far,” said Langford.
Langston Hughes got a chance to see first-hand how elite Langford was and how great of an addition he would be to the Panthers program when he joined the Panthers this past offseason. Langford went off during his senior season throwing for 3,253 yards and 38 touchdowns for the Panthers this season. In 10 of the 15 games played this season, Langford threw for 200+ yards and he threw a touchdown pass in every game played this year. He led the Panthers back to the state championship game for the first time since 2022, a record-setting season for the Panthers. He thanks former head coach Daniel Boone Williams and the Hughes staff for taking him in.
“Coach Boone taught me a lot. He was one of the coaches who truly believed in me, knowing that I could get it done. Some people don’t know, but I’ve known Coach Boone since I was five years old. He’s been one of my biggest supporters since then. So no one else I would trust more than him. Langston Hughes’ whole football staff embraced me from day one. Being at Langston Hughes was great. Being back on the south side, where I grew up, with the kids and coaches that know me having fun like we did playing rec league brought back good fun memories,” said Langford.
He is no stranger to the spotlight and has always performed on the big stage. Last spring during the Under Armour camp in Atlanta, he was named QB MVP awarded to the best quarterback at the camp. In the state championship game in a losing effort, he threw for 222 passing yards and two touchdowns against a tough Milton Eagles defense. Langford also rushed for 78 yards as both teams threw haymakers at each other in the first half. He talked about what he enjoyed most about being in that game and playing against Milton.
“The atmosphere. Knowing we were going up against some of the best kids in the state of Georgia and being able to do it with my brothers for our last rodeo was the icing on the cake,” said Langford.
Fast forward to the state title game and Langford blew up after that stellar performance. He gave thanks to GPB for their platform and the live television of the state championships for his chance to showcase his talent.
“My parents and coaches always told me, if I build it, it will come! If I continued to work hard, my talent would be seen. People kept saying oh he has offers from UCF, Troy and Liberty. I went to UCF and Troy and yeah, those offers were not committable. I got my first JUCO offer after that Coffee game. GMC came to see me and Woodgett and they were amazed AND confused that I had no offers. I was excited about it because I hadn’t really had any communication with any coaches,” said Langford.
“Once the championship game was played. My Twitter account blew up. I’m assuming the live feed from GPBSports put me on the radar. When GPB host Matt Stewart commented on my Twitter post about my recruitment being open 24/7 like a Waffle House, it literally went viral. That’s when my inbox went crazy. I’m forever grateful for the media coverage because without them putting Georgia football on the screen and in live view, myself, as well as other kids, wouldn’t have the exposure.”
Those offers eventually led to an eventual commitment to FIU in Miami. Langford details his decision and why he chose the Panthers to be his next destination and a part of his journey.
“It felt great knowing I would be able to call a place home after graduation. Not just a place, but FIU. Who wouldn’t want to play football in Miami? Beautiful weather, a beautiful campus, and beautiful women. From Coach Kenneth Gilstrap to offensive coordinator Nick Coleman and head coach Willie Simmons, they believed in me and took a chance on me. I’m going into that program with the HC being a QB and the OC also being a QB,” said Langford.
“We’ve had several conversations that have made me feel real comfortable. Almost as if I was talking to my OC Cole Meyer at Langston. Like a big brother to a little brother relationship. I love that he played QB, so he knows the pressures of the position and can relate to some of the things I’ve had to deal with,” said Langford. “I’m excited to work with him and do big things at FIU. I got the chance to meet head coach Simmons this weekend on the OV. He came off as my guy, like real chill. The questions I had about the future were genuine and not robotic. There was just a connection that I can’t really explain, but when you have that feeling of you know this is real, this was that feeling.”
Langford will now turn his attention to the track season as he looks to make state in the long jump, one of his best events. He will head to FIU in the summer after he graduates from high school.
“So because I wanted to finish my track season, hopefully winning state in long jump, I’ll graduate mid-May and be at FIU at the end of May or early June,” said Langford.
As he turns the chapter to a new stage of his career, Langford is a testament to patience, battling through adversity, and being ready when your opportunity comes. He could have given up on the sport of football after things didn’t work out at his other stops after East Coweta. Instead, he kept churning away and now will get the chance to play for a D1 program at FIU, a reality that seemed bleak at the start of the 2024 season. Langford is the embodiment of never giving up on your dreams.
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