Dre Greenlaw Not First Razorback in Super Bowl, Just Latest

None of the others may have a story as intriguing to a lot of media as his this week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It's been interesting to see the national attention former Arkansas linebacker Dree Greenlaw has gotten this week at the Super Bowl. Most of it has been about the story of how he was taken in by Brian Early before earning his way to the San Francisco 49ers. His two interceptions of Green Bay's Jordan Love in the divisional round have been side notes.

Greenlaw is not the first Razorback to play in the game. Billy Ray Smith, Sr. got that honor in Super Bowl III. That game is best remembered because his Baltimore Colts never couldn't stop Jets quarterback Joe Namath from moving the ball. The Jets' 16-7 win became the first huge upset in a game that hadn't reached the dizzy phenomenon it's become.

Jim Lindsey played the next year for the Vikings, which lost to the Kansas City Chiefs' first Super Bowl win in Super Bowl IV. Lance Alworth became the first Razorback to score a touchdown in a blowout win over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. The summary is, a lot of players have been in the game, but even when Dan Hampton was with the Chicago Bears he didn't have as good of a backstory as Greenlaw.

49ers Path to NFC Title Game Began with Greenlaw Many Years Ago

It's been chronicled all week. the story how the Early family in Fayetteville brought in the youngster and ended up adopting him. He's credited them thoughout the process for being a huge part of why he's able to be playing the game today against the Chiefs.

When he was with the Hogs, he was one of the regulars at those press conferences where we all were gathered in the bunker-like media room at the Smith Center. By the end of the first month of the season, we pretty much had the standard answers and Greenlaw wasn't giving up much of anything that really mattered.

But it was his manners and unfailing willingness to talk after good and bad games. There were a lot more of the latter in his last two seasons with the Razorbacks under Bret Bielema and Chad Morris. The fact he's still with the team that drafted him says a lot. NFL teams don't keep players around that aren't helping them try to get where they are now.

A big part of that credit goes to DeMeco Ryans. Playing in the NFL is an entirely new world, regardless how well you think they are prepared for it. Stuff comes at you fast, blindingly fast on and off the field.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) during a press conference before Super Bowl LVIII at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort :: Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports

"Definitely DeMeco (Ryans)," Greenlaw said this week in the myriad of press conferences and media in Las Vegas. "He was probably the number one coach and person to be honest. "He helped me figure out the difference of the life of being in the NFL. He kind of understood my story a little bit. He definitely helped navigate and coach me through those times. Just teaching me how to read, the different formations, what it means, and all those key details that could help me play faster. But he was the one that kind of really pushed my growth and understanding."

Now he just wants one of those Super Bowl rings. The 49ers and Chiefs will start the process of finding out Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. and fuboTV. You can pretty much catch the pregame somewhere now. Everybody is doing something with it.

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