Fayetteville safety/linebacker Dre Greenlaw orally committed to Arkansas on Thursday night.
Greenlaw was an Arkansas State commitment before reopening his recruiting Oct. 15, a few days after receiving a scholarship offer from the Razorbacks.
"It's somewhere I've always wanted to go and somewhere I'm dreamed of going since I was little," Greenlaw said. "It's something I've worked hard for since I first came to Fayetteville."
Greenlaw, 6-1, 216 pounds, 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash, chose Arkansas over scholarship offers from Georgia, Washington State, Arkansas State, Memphis and Southern Miss.
Greenlaw had a strong offseason and shows improved athleticism, something Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith saw that firsthand while watching the Bulldogs' 7-0 victory over Fort Smith Southside on Oct. 3.
"I feel like I still have more to work for, but it kind of tells me hard work pays off," said Greenlaw, whose father, Brian Early, is Arkansas State's defensive line coach. "Anything can happen when you set your mind to it. Just go out for it and anything can happen."
Greenlaw was a member of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's All-Arkansas Preps Super Sophomore team as a cornerback after recording 53 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception and 5 pass breakups. He was named to the preseason All-Arkansas Preps team this season after recording 93 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and 1 pass breakup as a junior.
Greenlaw's versatility will give Arkansas the flexibility to play him at safety or outside linebacker.
"Coach [Bret] Bielema said I'll start off at safety," said Greenlaw, whose lead recruiter at Arkansas is tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. "If I get bigger, which everybody thinks I will, I can work my way down."
Greenlaw is Arkansas' 15th oral commitment for the 2015 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.
-- Richard Davenport
Sports on 10/24/2014