All wrapped up

Harris, Greenlaw fly to ball for 29 tackles

ARLINGTON, Texas — Linebackers De’Jon “Scoota” Harris and Dre Greenlaw made more than a third of the Arkansas Razorbacks’ tackles Saturday against Texas A&M.

Harris, a junior, had a career-high 16 tackles, including 2 for losses of 10 yards. Greenlaw, a senior, had 13 tackles and two interceptions.

“Unbelievable,” University of Arkansas Coach Chad Morris said of his linebackers’ play after Texas A&M held on for a 24-17 victory at AT&T Stadium. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been part of two guys that were that productive in one game.

“They were very much just all over the field and very impactful.”

Earlier this week, Greenlaw and Harris were two of four players elected team captains for the rest of the season.

“Me and Dre being voted team captains, we’ve got to have these type of games,” Harris said. “People look up to us, and we’ve got to get the defense going.”

Harris and Greenlaw made 36.7 percent of the Razorbacks’ 79 tackles.

“Those two guys will probably be the first to tell you that the D-line kept those [offensive] linemen off of them, allowing them to play downhill,” Morris said. “I know they’re hurting. But, boy, they emptied their tank. And that’s what you ask.”

Harris smiled when asked about Greenlaw’s interceptions.

“I asked Dre, ‘Did the quarterback just throw you the ball?’ ” Harris said. “Because every time I turned around, he was just right there making a play. I’m proud of Dre. He’s like a big brother to me.”

Greenlaw’s first interception off Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond came on a second-and-5 play from the Aggies 45 in the first quarter.

“The distance was short in order to get a first down, so I knew he was going to run some type of quick route,” Greenlaw said. “His head gave it away on film. He kind of shows it with which way his head is pointing, that’s the way it’s going break out.

“Right when I saw his head turn, I knew where he was going, so I broke on the ball and made a play for my teammates.”

Greenlaw’s second interception was on a third-and-13 play from the Arkansas 30 in the second quarter when the Razorbacks disguised their coverage and lined up as if they would blitz.

“We made it look like I was coming, and [Mond] thought I was coming,” Greenlaw said. “I could tell.

“At the snap of the ball I dropped back, and he didn’t even see me and he gave it to me.”

Greenlaw credited Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis for having the Razorbacks well prepared and making good calls.

“Coach Chavis has done a real good job making sure we understand what we’re doing,” Greenlaw said. “The formation and the routes that they ran, I understood it. I saw it multiple times. It comes from watching film and studying. I watched a lot of film and saw the tendencies of things they like to do.

“Thank God for film. You’ve got to keep at it. Just keep watching film and learn people’s offense, learn what they love to do and try to take that away.”

Texas A&M was averaging an SEC-leading 545.5 yards in total offense, but the Razorbacks held the Aggies to 377 yards.

“We just had to go out there and do what we do,” Harris said. “Execute our game plan.”

Harris had one tackle on Texas A&M’s first 15 plays.

“I started off a little sluggish,” he said. “We made some adjustments that got me into the game plan a little bit more. I felt more comfortable in the second half.”

Greenlaw, who missed 11 consecutive quarters after suffering an ankle injury in the opener, said he’s still playing with pain.

“Both of my ankles are hurting, but I just get them wrapped up,” Greenlaw said. “If I can play, I’m going to play. After I tweak [an ankle], it hurts for a while, but then it slowly disappears.”

Texas A&M led 17-0 early in the second quarter, thanks in part to a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown by Jashaun Corbin.

“Things happen all through the game,” Harris said. “So you just have to put that behind you, because you’ve still got more game to play.”

Arkansas defensive linemen Randy Ramsey and Jonathan Marshall were flagged in the fourth quarter for having their hands in the faces of offensive linemen.

“Those penalties hurt,” Harris said. “Just some small things you probably don’t notice you’re doing. Just some accidents. But it can be big in the game, especially on third down when it’s time to get off the field.”

Greenlaw said he appreciated Morris’ postgame comments about he and Harris.

“Me and Scoota just go out and work every day,” Greenlaw said. “We know that when we get to the game, he’s going to make some plays and I’m going to make some plays.

“I think a lot people look down on us because of the school, the record and everything. We’ve still got a lot to prove. I think every game we go out with something to prove to people — that we can play and we can play with anybody.

“We’ve just got to keep getting better and pushing everybody else. Eventually that’s going to come out in a W.”

“Me and Dre being voted team captains, we’ve got to have these type of games. People look up to us, and we’ve got to get the defense going.” — Arkansas linebacker De’Jon “Scoota” Harris