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A player's journey to the Super Bowl has to start somewhere. For San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, his journey began in Fayetteville.
"We call him 'Big Play Dre' for a reason," former Fayetteville High School head coach Daryl Patton said. "He always found a way to be around the ball and make plays."
Greenlaw faced adversity most of his life as he bounced from foster homes and group homes across Arkansas.
"He uses it as motivation to be the best he can be," Patton said.
Fortunately, he found his forever home at the age of 14 when Fayetteville's assistant coach Brian Early and his wife Nanci welcomed him into their family.
As a safety for the Bulldogs, Greenlaw was ranked as the 12th-best player in the state. Despite his all-star status, the college offers weren't rolling in so his coaches started making calls next door.
"We had to beg and plead for Coach Bielema to take a shot on him," Patton said. "He was the last scholarship kid that they gave a scholarship to that year."
The big plays continued at the University of Arkansas, as well as the hardships. Greenlaw had a change of positions to linebacker under the guidance of the newly hired linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves.
"It just did the whole aspect of being out there closer to the ball," Hargreaves said. "It was all new to him."
Greenlaw went on to start in 39 of the 42 games of his college career and was named captain his senior year.
"You don't really become that guy until you kind of figure it out," Hargreaves said. "By the time we got to year three, he was a little bit more comfortable being that kind of guy."
After his senior season, he had dreams of playing in the NFL. Feeling overlooked again, he fell to the fifth round. Finally, a blessing in disguise came when an up-and-coming 49ers team called.
"When you're picking the fifth and sixth round, a little bit later in the rounds, not a lot is expected of you," Patton said.
However, Greenlaw proved himself once again, leading all of the 49ers rookies in tackles during his rookie season.
"He's playing hard," Hargreaves said. "I love the way he's playing. He looks confident. He is confident."
Now his team will once again call on "Big Play Dre" in a rematch on the biggest stage against the Kansas City Chiefs. As he takes the field on Sunday, he knows he's not alone.
"In the last text, we were talking about the ring," Patton said. "I said, 'Man, go get the ring.' And he said, 'Yes, sir, coach. No doubt.' So you know he's focused. He's ready to go get one."
Greenlaw will be taking the field alongside a fellow Bulldog and Razorback quarterback Brandon Allen.
The 49ers take on the Chiefs in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 5:30 p.m.
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