The Recruiting Guy

Fayetteville's 'Big Play Dre' has nose for football

Dre Greenlaw of Fayetteville carries the ball through the Springdale Har-Ber defense during the first half Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, at Harmon Stadium in Fayetteville.

Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton wasn't surprised that safety Dre Greenlaw received a scholarship offer from Arkansas on Oct. 9 and another from Georgia on Thursday.

"I've never seen a player that's had a knack for being around the ball as much as he is," Patton said. "Whether it be a fumble recovery or an interception or a tipped pass, whatever it is, Dre is just always right in the middle of it."

Arkansas commitment list

POS.;ATHLETE;HT;WT;40;HOMETOWN/SCHOOL

DE-TE; JaMario Bell; 6-6; 248; 4.7; Junction City

TE;Austin Cantrell; 6-3 1/2;245;4.58; Roland, Okla.

DE; Daytrieon Dean; 6-3; 255; 4.89; Fort Smith Northside

DL; Hjalte Froholdt; 6-5; 290;—;Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

TE; Will Gragg; 6-4; 247; 4.8; Dumas

WR; K.J. Hill; 6-1;192; 4.42; North Little Rock

OL; Colton Jackson; 6-6; 304; 5.3; Conway

P; Blake Johnson; 6-1; 190;—; Los Alamitos, Calif.

DE; Jeremiah Ledbetter; 6-4; 270; 4.72; Hutchinson CC

TE; C.J. O’Grady; 6-4; 230; 4.8; Fayetteville

OL; Zach Rogers; 6-2; 295; 5.06; Carrollton (Texas) Hebron

WR; Deon Stewart; 6-1; 163; 4.48; Highland

QB; Ty Storey; 6-3; 210, 4.7; Charleston

RB; Rawleigh Williams; 5-10; 198; 4.51; Dallas Bishop Lynch

Greenlaw, 6-1, 216 pounds, 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had been orally committed to Arkansas State until Wednesday, when he reopened his recruiting. He was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's All-Arkansas Preps preseason team this season after recording 93 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and 1 pass breakup as a junior.

"He brings a lot to the table in the return game, whether it be as a punt returner or kickoff return," Patton said. "He's a weapon."

Greenlaw had 32 unassisted tackles, 30 assisted tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 3 interceptions and 7 pass breakups going into Friday night's game against Springdale Har-Ber.

Greenlaw, who is being recruited by Arkansas to play outside linebacker, also has scholarship offers from Washington State, Tulsa, Memphis and Southern Miss. He had planned to participate in an Arkansas camp during the summer in hopes of earning a scholarship offer but broke his foot and was unable to attend.

Patton said Greenlaw's athleticism, speed, quickness and strength are all better than last year.

"I firmly believed he was going to be an SEC type," Patton said. "He's such a good kid. He lives, breathes and sleeps football. His best football still ahead of him. I really believe that."

Greenlaw's big-play ability has been a big part of Fayetteville's 24 victories over the past three years. He also helped secure a 7-0 victory over Fort Smith Southside on Oct. 3 when Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith was in the stands.

"They were driving down the field and threw a pass into the end zone, and Dre jumped up and caught it one-handed and returned it to about the 20-yard line," Patton said.

Greenlaw also returned a game-winning kickoff 94 yards with less than a minute left for a score against Rogers Heritage.

SOPHOMORE TO WATCH

Pulaski Academy Coach Kevin Kelley has coached several Division I prospects, including Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry and former Razorbacks Broderick Green and Jonathan Luigs.

Kelley said he believes he has another athlete, sophomore running back Myles Fells, who eventually will play on the major-college level.

"He's a sophomore, and he's already tremendous at a lot of things," Kelley said. "He's got speed and power, and he can catch the ball."

Fells, 5-10, 185 pounds, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is the son of former Henderson State running back Kenny Fells, who was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 1986 NFL draft.

Fells had rushed 56 times for 435 yards and 7 touchdowns and had 12 receptions for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns going into Friday's game against Jacksonville. Fells rushed 6 times for 103 yards with 1 touchdown in Pulaski Academy's 55-7 victory.

"He's got great vision, he can cut," Kelley said. "One of my favorite things about him is he can cut full speed and make people miss without slowing down. That's something not a lot of people can do."

The Bruins are 6-1, and their only loss was a 48-42 setback against Class 6A Dallas Highland Park, which plays in the highest classification in Texas.

"You're talking about a kid that has played some really good teams and he showed out," Kelley said. "I think the sky is the limit for this kid."

DECISION TIME

Junior-college forward Malik Dime of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa said he plans to announce his college decision Monday afternoon.

Dime, 6-10, 220 pounds, will chose between Arkansas, Rutgers, Iowa State and Washington.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 10/19/2014