San Francisco 49ers rookie linebacker Dre Greenlaw stood in front of Bay Area reporters on Thursday afternoon. He had spoken to many of them just five days earlier. Of course, that was via a conference call after learning he was drafted in the fifth round.
For the first time, Greenlaw was just feet away from the reporters who will follow and write about his career in the years to come.
The 49ers will open a three-day rookie minicamp on Friday afternoon. Players reported to the Santa Clara-based team headquarters on Thursday.
Greenlaw was working on just four hours of sleep because he was so eager to report to his new NFL team. He arrived for his flight to San Jose three-and-a-half hours early. Friday will be Greenlaw's first opportunity since being drafted to make an on-field impression on his new coaches.
Greenlaw was asked who he looked up to as a football player when he was growing up. One of his answers should delight the Niner Faithful.
"Definitely, Patrick Willis, man," he responded.
Greenlaw didn't get to watch Willis play much because he didn't always have access to a television while growing up. But he was inspired by Willis' story and tried to pattern his play after the seven-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time first-team All-Pro linebacker. Willis helped take care of his younger siblings while the family scraped by financially and had to deal with an alcoholic father.
Greenlaw sees a lot of similarities between Willis' journey and his own. He grew up an orphan and said at one point in his life, if he had a phone, he wouldn't even have two numbers to put in it.
"I went years without talking to my brothers and sisters," Greenlaw added.
Greenlaw also named others like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed as players who have inspired him. He also named former 49ers safety Eric Reid.
Greenlaw is grateful for the opportunity to play in the NFL. He is eager to get started and soak up knowledge from his new coaches and teammates. Greenlaw always saw football as an opportunity to escape his situation.
"Every day, I wake up, I'm thankful," Greenlaw told reporters. "I'm praying every morning. I'm praying every night. After everything I've been through, I know there's one person that's making it all happen. I give Him all the credit. It's been unreal, waking up, knowing I'm a Forty-Niner. It makes me want to go even harder."
Video courtesy of Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.