Rookie took ‘crazy’ path
Well-traveled LB brings intensity and intangibles
Jonathan Greenard and his family had traveled a long way, driving from their home in rural Georgia to the University of Kentucky. Greenard had every intention of accepting the full football scholarship already discussed with the coaching staff.
Upon arriving in Lexington six years ago with his mother, Carmen GreenardVarnum, and stepfather Washington Varnum Jr. for the Wildcats’ summer football camp, the future Texans linebacker saw his plans take an unexpected turn.
The family immediately picked up on a strange vibe from the UK coaching staff despite Greenard wanting to verbally commit before his senior year of high school. Kentucky told him to wait a few days because the coaches wanted to scout some other linebackers at the camp before making a final decision on him.
The Greenards were stunned by the off-putting news as they left campus and returned to their hotel. They were planning on using part of their remaining gas money to drive to Birmingham, Ala., to visit Greenard’s sister, who was due to give birth.
That’s when Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, a former Texans defensive line coach, called the family after learning they were in the area. Grantham had scouted Greenard at his high school in Hiram, Ga., (population 3,546) and was enamored of the regional Defensive Player of the Year.
The family got $100 wired to them through Western Union to change
their travel plans and headed to Louisville, where Greenard wowed Grantham and the other coaches at the Cardinals’ camp.
“I remember I went by his school sometime in the spring, and he was an impressive-looking guy from (a) body type standpoint,” Grantham said by phone. “I wanted to get him on campus, but he was going to the University of Kentucky for their camp. I got wind that he was going to be there, and I begged him and his mom to stop by. We were an hour’s drive away. His sister was pregnant and about to have a baby over in Birmingham, but we were able to convince him to come by and work out for us.
“My son Corbin was only 12 years old. As soon as he saw him doing a drill, he said, ‘That guy’s a dude.’ We offered him right on the spot, kept recruiting him, and he wound up committing to us. Everything else is history.”
Six years later, Greenard is the Texans’ third-round draft pick after turning down Missouri and other suitors and playing for Grantham at Louisville. Greenard excelled last season at Florida, playing again for Grantham as a graduate transfer.
A relentless hybrid edge rusher, Greenard emerged as one of the top graduate transfers in the nation last season as the leader of the Gators’ defense. Despite being hampered by a highankle sprain, Greenard was a first-team All-SEC selection who led the team with 15½ tackles for losses and 9½ sacks among 52 tackles. He also had an interception and three forced fumbles.
Greenard’s trademark intensity, hard-hitting style and passion for football, the game he’s played since he was 5 years old, were major reasons Grantham wanted him as a cornerstone of his defense.
“Honestly, the intangibles Jon had were why I wanted to bring him to Gainesville,” Grantham said. “We were in the transition of taking over the program, and we had some young players coming in that I wanted him to be around. Quite frankly, within the first quarter of the first game, he became the leader of that defense.
“Jon has the passion. He wants to be the best at everything he does. He’s going to come early for meetings. He’s going to prepare in the weight room and film room and work his tail off. The way he attacks meetings, practices — everything he does is game day.
“He’s very close with his family. They’re at every game. They’re very proud and supportive and have instilled a great work ethic in him.”
Greenard led Louisville with 15½ tackles for losses in 2017 and also recorded seven sacks. He was named team captain. In 2018, a major wrist injury sidelined him.
That preceded his decision to transfer to Florida and compete in the SEC. Greenard returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown against Vanderbilt last year. He had three sacks against Florida State, delivering a crushing hit on freshman quarterback Jordan Travis that caused a fumble.
Greenard was definitely ready for the jump in competition.
“No matter what the situation or what I’ve done in my past, it doesn’t matter,”
Greenard said after being selected 90th overall by the Texans. “I’m always going to work hard. I always feel like I have something to prove in being the underdog.
“Having that mindset and that chip on my shoulder all the time — I carry it anywhere I go. I’m going to try to do the same thing when I come to Houston, and hopefully I can have that same impact coming in.”
After the season, Greenard was selected to the prestigious Senior Bowl allstar game. The Texans interviewed him there and at the NFL scouting combine.
Greenard didn’t run very fast at the combine, recording a 4.87 in the 40yard dash. He benchpressed 225 pounds 22 times and had a 30½-inch vertical leap. His 10-yard split of 1.71 seconds was more impressive than anything else.
As a player, Greenard’s first-step quickness, violent power and ability to create leverage allow him to consistently win at the line of scrimmage.
“The biggest thing with Jon is his initial quickness and burst,” Grantham said. “He’s a slippery guy. You can go back and look at (former Ravens linebacker) Terrell Suggs coming out of Arizona State. He didn’t run very fast, and he dropped some because of that in the draft. What you run is just a portion of what a player is. Jon is a doubledigit sack guy in the best conference who struggled to get healthy because of the sprained ankle.
“It won’t be too big for him on the biggest stage. I had a lot of teams call me about Jon. I could tell a lot of teams liked him. I look at the value of a player for their system. Houston has a 3-4 slash nickel package, so Jon probably has a little higher value for them. He can do so many things as an outside linebacker/defensive end edge rusher. He becomes a really valuable guy for a multiple front.”
In defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme, the Texans envision Greenard lining up at the strong-side outside linebacker position in the base defense and operating in a versatile role.
“Jon can be a rusher or a dropper,” Grantham said. “He can cover a back or a tight end. Jon is so smart, so he can play more than one position.”
“He’s got size. He’s got strength,” Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien said. “When you get to sub defense, it’s just anywhere. If we are in an odd front, or an even front, where could he be?
“Could he be standing up? Could he be walking around? I think at his core he’s an outside linebacker, but I do think he can do a lot of different things.”
Signed to a four-year, $4.475 million contract, Greenard is determined to prove he belongs in an experienced front seven headlined by J.J. Watt, Zach Cunningham, Benardrick McKinney and Whitney Mercilus.
“Man, it’s crazy,” Greenard said. “I’m not supposed to be here. It’s one of these situations where I’m just blessed to be in this situation. Now I’m in the NFL, something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid.
“Now it’s finally here, so I’m just thankful. This is only the beginning. This is the first step to where I want to be. I’ve got a long way to go, a lot to learn, so I’m just ready to work.”