Like It Is

Hogs' Greenlaw fits in wherever he goes

Arkansas freshman linebacker Dre Greenlaw gives chase to Texas Tech senior wide receiver Jakeem Grant on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas freshman linebacker Dre Greenlaw gives chase to Texas Tech senior wide receiver Jakeem Grant on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- It is not something he dwells on.

Dre Greenlaw's bio in the Arkansas Razorbacks football media guide lists his parents as Brian and Nanci Early.

In coach Brian Early's bio for the Arkansas State Red Wolves media guide, he lists the names of his four children: three daughters -- Sydney, Aivery and Camryn -- and a son, Dre.

It has been known that Greenlaw, Arkansas' surprisingly good freshman linebacker last season, one of 13 children, lived in foster care for almost three years before he met the Earlys (Brian was a high school coach at Fayetteville), who immediately felt a bond with him.

The youth home he was living in at the time was about to be shut down, and the Earlys made what they considered the right decision -- the only decision. They invited the 13-year-old into their home as a member of their family.

It took a ton of paperwork and interviews, but finally the family was allowed to blend, and as they say in Hollywood, a story was made.

Understand, this was not about football. Greenlaw was not an oversized athlete who stood out everywhere he went. He was a little bit undersized in height, although he was tough and athletic on the field and smart, kind and gentle off it.

At Fayetteville High School his nickname became "Big Play Dre," because as a safety he stormed all over the field, making bone-rattling tackles.

One scouting service ranked him as the sixth-best player in Arkansas and he was considered a three-star recruit by most. He had offers from Georgia and Washington State, but his heart was all Hog.

Greenlaw, 6-0, 220 pounds, looked like he could help at the safety spot from the time he set foot on campus last summer. Definitely, he would be an addition on specialty teams.

Only someone forgot to tell Greenlaw it is almost impossible for a true freshman to play in the SEC.

So he went out and had a breakout season.

"Honestly, I didn't allow myself to think about any of that during the season last year," he said, "but after the season was over it hit me that I had just played in the SEC, the best football conference in the country. I was like, 'how did I do that?'"

Early on, Greenlaw was moved to linebacker, where the Hogs were really thin, and teamed up with former Bulldogs teammate Brooks Ellis. They became a dynamic duo, forced to play more downs than is preferred by coaches. But with each game, Greenlaw improved.

He started 11 of 13 games, was the only freshman in the SEC to be named Freshman of the Week twice, and when the season ended he had 95 total tackles and a team-high 46 unassisted tackles.

In his first start, at Tennessee, he had 10 tackles, eight in the first half.

He had 16 tackles against Auburn and 12 against LSU.

Really good for a guy who looks back now, laughs and admits: "I was going on probably 70 percent instinct. I think maybe the only play I knew really well was when I was supposed to blitz off the edge."

Greenlaw was quick to point out, though, that he had a lot of fundamental teaching in high school, "and I can't tell you how much that helped."

"I was taught go out and hit people. My coaches gave me freedom to roam the field to make plays, and that was a lot of what I relied on last season."

Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said by the spring that had changed, and that Greenlaw's technique had improved.

He hits people hard, but this is the same young man who on ESPN recounted his early life and became very emotional talking about living in youth homes.

"I just hoped my family missed me as much as I missed them," he said.

Now he has three families, the one by birth, the one by choice and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Sports on 08/10/2016

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