As players and fans mingled at Virginia football's photo and autograph day this spring, one young, starry-eyed fan walked up to the big guy wearing black standing behind one of the players extended his hand and said "Hey, I know you."

"Oh yeah?," was the response from the big guy with the movie-star looks.

"Yeah, you are Chris Long's father aren't you!"

At last, the son has arrived.

Chris Long is a standout junior defensive end for the Cavaliers, but he also is the son of Howie Long, who played 13 seasons in the NFL for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He always has been an excellent athlete but, no matter what he has accomplished, he always has been referred to as "Howie Long's kid."

But he may be beginning to carve a legacy of his own and one day may be the more famous of the two.

"I don't know that I've gotten to the point where people know me more than my dad or that I ever will or even want to get to that point," Chris Long said. "The cool thing is my dad was actually happy that someone referred to him as being my dad instead of the other way around. He always tells me that it is my time now, but I really don't mind that people talk more about him."

Long might have a famous dad, but people know his name because of his deeds on the field. A returning starter, he was named a preseason first-team All-American by Street & Smith's and to the watch list for the Hendrick's Award for the top defensive ends in college football.

When the Cavaliers come to Heinz Field Saturday night to play Pitt, the Panthers will have no problem identifying Long. The Panthers' offensive line has watched plenty of film of him and was impressed.

"He is not just their best defensive lineman, he is their best defensive player period," guard John Simonitis said. "When you watch him on film, he just never quits, he never stops, he's a fighter and he's real quick off the ball. If you forget about him even once, he'll make a big play."

Long, 6 feet 4, 284 pounds, was born in Southern California, but moved to Ivy, Va., just outside of Charlottesville, when he was in elementary school. He was a star at St. Anne's-Belfield High School, where, as a senior, he was a SuperPrep All-American and the Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia. That season, he had 91 tackles, 23 for loss. But, as great as he was, he had one scholarship offer, which was the way he wanted it.

A lot more schools would have pursued him, but he made it clear early in his recruitment that he wanted to play for the Cavaliers. He also made his commitment to Virginia in his junior season -- when most players are just getting started with recruiting.

"I wanted to stay local, and I also felt like this program and school had everything I was looking for so why go somewhere else?" Long said.

Earlier, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said that Long is so good it is clear that his father must have been working with him since he was a youth. Actually, Long's interest in playing football is relatively new.

"Baseball was always my favorite sport, and I thought it would be the sport I'd pursue for the long term," Long said. "But I guess about my sophomore year in high school, I started really getting into football, and then it just took off from there. The great thing is my dad was OK with whatever I wanted to do. He always supported me, and once I showed I was serious about football, that's when he really started to get involved and give me pointers."

Long played little as a freshman in 2004, but last season earned a starting job and took advantage of it. He started all 12 games, had 46 tackles, 10 for loss, and two sacks. He blocked seven passes. Those numbers might not be overwhelming, but the Cavaliers play mostly a 3-4 defense, so his role is different from a traditional pass-rushing end.

Long never has had the luxury of being anonymous because of his dad, but, at least last season, he was able to make a lot of plays while other teams were focusing on stopping some of the Cavaliers' other stars, like standout linebacker Kai Parham. This year, however, all eyes are on Long, but he said he's OK with being a marked man.

"If teams focus on me, that will allow my teammates to make plays," Long said. "I don't know that I'll be the focus of offenses anyway. We have a lot of great players on defense, and I am just one piece of the puzzle. The key is to win games, and that's really all I want to be known for -- helping Virginia win games."

NOTES -- Wannstedt said yesterday he expects receiver Cedric McGee (hamstring) and defensive tackle Mick Williams (concussion) to play against Virginia. Linebacker Brian Bennett (knee) originally was thought to be out for a long time, perhaps even the season, but Wannstedt said he has shown signs of improvement. ... Kicker Conor Lee was held out of practice again yesterday. "He will kick [today] and Friday, and we will rest him [tomorrow]. Two days will be enough to give us a good idea of where he's at before the game," Wannstedt said.