FAYETTEVILLE — Dre Greenlaw is proof that a football team’s top big-play threat doesn’t always have to come from the offensive side of the ball.
While Fayetteville does have its share of playmakers on offense, Greenlaw has shown through the first three weeks of the season that his performance on defense and special teams can provide plenty of highlights as well.
First there was a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter in Fayetteville’s 35-21 win in the season opener against Warren, as Greenlaw broke past two defenders, found an open lane and sailed untouched into the north end zone at Razorback Stadium to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead at the time.
Then he added a 68-yard interception return touchdown the following week against Jefferson City, Mo., again coming in the first quarter to give Fayetteville a 14-0 lead that would hold up the rest of the way.
And last week, it was another 50-yard punt return by Greenlaw that set up Fayetteville’s first touchdown of the game, for a 10-0 lead in a 27-22 win at Muskogee.
“I like being able to go out there and get the ball in my hands,” Greenlaw said. “Being on defense, you don’t get the chance to get the ball in your hands and score that much. So whenever I get the ball in my hands I like to make something happen.”
Whether it be as a punt returner or on defense, he is definitely providing a big lift for the Purple’Dogs (3-0) so far this season. A 6-foot, 200-pound junior, he played cornerback as a sophomore but moved to bandit linebacker earlier this year. Now playing at strong safety, Greenlaw has established himself as one of the clear leaders not only on the defense, but on the entire team.
“I see myself as being a positive role model and going out there and kind of setting the tone,” Greenlaw said. “I go out there and make sure everybody else is kind of fired up so that we can all be ready to make plays.
“The other guys are good leaders also and we just all have to be ready to go out there and make plays.”
Greenlaw worked tirelessly in the weight room during the offseason to add bulk to his already impressive frame. And with the size of a linebacker playing with the speed of a defensive back, he has become quite a weapon for Fayetteville.
“He wasn’t small last year. He was probably 190 last year at cornerback,” Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. “But I thought he did a great job in the offseason in the weight room, and he’s a much stronger football player this year. And it wouldn’t surprise me next season to see him play linebacker.
“He’s a guy that could play some wildcat quarterback for us. He could play wide receiver for us. He just has a knack for going up and getting it. He has that d-back mentality and he just does a great job coming down with the ball.”
The big plays Greenlaw has reeled off each game so far don’t come as a surprise to anyone who has watched him play. Greenlaw himself even expected as much before the season began.
“I felt like last year seeing all the other guys play, I knew coming in this year I had a lot more experience because I had played my sophomore year,” Greenlaw said. “So I knew I was going to have to be a guy who made some plays this year and make something happen in order for our team to win and get back to winning state.”
Whether the big plays were expected or not, the Bulldogs know now that Greenlaw is a big piece to the puzzle this season. And the more big plays he can produce, the better.
“Against Warren, the punt return was huge for us. We may not win that game if he doesn’t return that punt for us,” Patton said. “Then against Jefferson City, all week we had worked on baiting the quarterback and giving the appearance we were going to be in a heavy blitz. And Dre jumped on it and took it 68 yards for a touchdown.
“Then last week, he takes another punt about 50 yards and that really got us pumped up and excited. So he’s really been big-play Dre for us so far.”