A closer look: Brandon Lang

SAN DIEGO – Rookie linebacker Brandon Lang was used to being a superstar. The self-described jock wandered the halls of Tucker High School in Tucker, Ga., one of the most coveted prep athletes in the state. Some of college football’s biggest programs recruited him, but he picked the hometown Georgia Bulldogs over a host of SEC schools, USC, Nebraska and Florida State. Lang seemed destined to catch the attention of NFL scouts. But he never made it to Athens, Ga. His standardized academic test scores weren’t high enough to qualify him out of high school. Six years later, he must overcome long odds to earn his keep as an undrafted free agent if he wants to emerge as a headliner for the Chargers. “In my circumstance, nothing was ever given to me,” Lang said. “Always work hard at what you do and eventually you’ll come out on top.” He believes the block of time that saw him drift off the national radar and forced him to learn resolve has prepared him well. He launche...