Life Under the Microscope: The Greg Little Story

ALLEN, Texas — On Nov. 4, 1997, Terry Lacy-Little gave birth to a son who doctors, nurses and observers quickly dubbed "the next Dallas Cowboy."

Greg Little came into this world as an 11-pound, two-ounce baby who also happened to be 23 inches long.

"The doctor was saying he'd probably be about nine pounds at first," his mother said. "He never wore newborn sizes; he couldn't. People came by to see him, and they couldn't believe he was born 20 minutes ago. They'd say things like, 'There's the next Dallas Cowboy.'"

Fast-forward 17 years, and Little, a 5-star offensive tackle representing Allen, Texas, is still the next big thing—literally and figuratively. At 6'6" and 318 pounds, he already has prototypical size for an offensive lineman at the next level.

As the nation's No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 2 overall player in the 2016 class, Little has 27 scholarship offers and has verbally committed to play college football at Texas A&M.

Being a Cowboy is Little's ultimate football dream, as he's a big fan and his favorite player is Tyron Smith, which makes sense, considering Smith is arguably Dallas' best offensive lineman.

For now, Little has other goals to focus on. The first objective—as it is every day—is to be better than he was the day before.

"Everybody isn't doing the extra things every day," Little said. "I know what I have to do, and if I keep doing that, hopefully, everything will work itself out." 

Athletic, mature and willing

Chris Shaw coached Little when he was a young athlete competing in Little League for the Plano (Texas) Redskins and describes Little as "a big teddy bear with a tenacious attitude."

Shaw said Little's always been the player every coach wants, the classic Jekyll-and-Hyde type of athlete who knows exactly when to take his level of intensity to its peak.

"He'll knock the snot out of you, and then he'll help you get up," Shaw said.

As a youngster, Little lined up at tackle on offense and middle linebacker on defense. Even as a big kid, Little was one of the fastest on the team, according to Shaw. Playing middle linebacker made more sense than taking a role as a defensive lineman because of his speed and lateral movement.

"He could cover from sideline to sideline," Shaw said.

As Little got older, he remained quick and athletic, but because of his size, he remained on the offensive line. For a short stint, Little lined up at tight end in his early days at Allen.

Jeff Fleener, the current head coach at Brandeis High School in San Antonio, served nine years as the offensive coordinator for Allen. Fleener still remembers Little's full-time transition, as he "moved to tackle because we asked him to."

Fleener first saw Little as an eighth-grader at Ereckson Middle School in Allen. Little instantly impressed, as his advanced blocking technique assisted many big plays that resulted in touchdowns.

"I saw that big body and immediately started thinking about how we could use him," Fleener said. "Coming in as a freshman, he wanted to be a tight end for us because he was very athletic and a basketball player.

"His sophomore year, with our situation at tackle, we knew that was where his future was. We needed him there. He said he was disappointed because he wanted to play tight end, but he said he understood."

The move worked out. Emphatically. After learning from his coaches and players like Tejan Koroma (now at BYU) and Bobby Evans (Oklahoma), Little is now the big man on campus and the elder statesman offering advice to younger linemen.

He's also the player other offensive tackles around the country are chasing.

"I can't worry about them," he said. "I just have to worry about me. I know I have to keep getting better."

Technique is everything

The physical measurables are there, but what makes Little such a remarkable talent is his technique. He utilizes his big hands—roughly 10 inches from the bottom of his hand to the top of his middle finger—and focuses on hand placement. He also works diligently on his stance and firing off the line.

"When people see me, they expect me to put up big numbers in the weight room," Little said. "I'm strong enough, but I have a long body, and my thing is to have proper technique. The first thing is hand placement. If I know that [a defender's] favorite move is the rip move, I'm making a move so he can't go across. Hand placement is a big thing for me."

Shaun Smith, a nine-year NFL veteran, is a family mentor who has watched Little evolve into one of the nation's most wanted recruits. Smith said it's rare for a 17-year-old to be categorized as an athlete who could hold his own at the next level—and potentially beyond.

Then again, Little isn't a normal 17-year-old.

"Listen," Smith said. "If we were going to an NFL training camp, he may not make the 53-man roster, but he'd make a practice squad somewhere, right now. If you play with good technique and pad level at any level, coaches will love that.

"He has the size and is looking to be developed. He still has a long way to go, but four or five years away..."

Huge words coming from a defensive tackle who spent time with five different NFL teams and played against some of the best offensive linemen the game has to offer. But with every word, there is sacrifice and little mercy.

Smith said he's probably the hardest on Little, primarily because he sees his potential. He works with him on moves he should expect from defensive linemen, and he gives him sound advice Little wouldn't hear from others.

"Pedicures," Smith said. "Feet can get someone like him paid. You need to take care of your feet. I tell him to get pedicures and to bathe in Epsom salt."

Getting stronger and faster are on Little's to-do list from now until the start of the 2015 season. He said he's run the 40-yard dash in 5.21 seconds, bench-pressed 305 pounds and squatted 450.

But above everything else, Little knows the key to his success is his continued quest to master technique, something he considers his bread and butter.

"I think some people are so worried about strength that they forget technique is everything," he said.

Cooking on and off the field

Ask anyone who's seen him play, and it's clear that Little has been fun to watch on the football field. Smith said there's a noticeable transformation when Little puts on the No. 74 jersey for Allen, one that never bodes well for opposing teams.

"You've got to know when to turn it on," Smith said. "When the lights come on, he's a dog."

But who is Little when it's just a regular day? 

At home, he's the young man his family calls by his full name, Gregory. He loves spending time with his grandmothers, enjoys hanging out with friends and can even be found at bowling alleys rolling a strike or two.

He's a low-key kid who will be the first to crack a joke. He's the guy who will jump in a friend's truck and go muddin'. He's the one who will wrestle with younger children—and get pinned.

Little is also the guy who, if football doesn't work out, may one day have his own cookbook. The 5-star athlete can create a five-course meal and loves cooking for his family.

"I like cooking fish. I think my favorite is cooking salmon," he said. "I'll either bake it or grill it. I like cooking steak and fried chicken, too. Maybe make it with a shrimp salad and dirty rice or a salad and grilled squash."

Little first learned to cook when he was a young boy. He would watch his mother and took an interest in preparing dishes that would wow anyone who was available to sample his food.

His mother sometimes watches him work in the kitchen, where his level of concentration and fixation on excellence is just as strong as it is on the football field.

In short, he's a perfectionist. Throw that trait in with his genuine nature and ability to get along with everyone, and there's a reason why he's a likable individual in addition to being the nation's top offensive tackle.

"I remember we needed some bulk while we were moving, and he and [Allen 2017 lineman] Will Sherman came over to help," Fleener said. "My dad and I just sat and laughed. They would move stuff that would have taken me and my dad three hours and two back surgeries to finish.

"He's just a good kid, and I always told him if there was anything he needed, I'd be there."

Credit: The Little family

'No pressure at all'

On Dec. 20, 2014, Allen High School captured its third consecutive Texas high school football state championship. As members of the team celebrated, Little was overheard delivering a message to one of his peers.

"Let's go get another one," he said.

For someone who's supposed to be carrying the boulder-like burden of leading Allen to a fourth straight state championship, Little lives a life of surprising tranquility.

"No pressure at all," Little said. "At the end of the day, you have to remember to have fun with everything. You've still got to be a kid."

That concept permeates everything in Little's life: his 5-star ranking, his recruiting process, the tall task of leading his high school to a potential fourth straight championship. Everything.

Credit: 247Sports

There's supposed to be pressure for Little. Tons of pressure. Not in his world, though.

Little remains even-keeled about life. It's one of many traits that makes others gravitate to him. Nothing seems to faze him.

"It's all just amazing to me sometimes; I mean, it blows me away," his mother added. "I think of all of it, and I know him just as Gregory. That's just my son. He's been an easy child to raise. I'm really proud of him."

Barring injury or any other unforeseen circumstances, Little has been projected as a first-round NFL draft pick when his time comes. It's nothing he discusses, but it's something those around him are pretty certain of.

"First, I see him starting early in college," Shaw said. "But I can definitely see him going pro, probably as a junior. He's a great football player, but he's a better kid."

"He's definitely going to get drafted top 10," Kyler Murray, Little's former quarterback at Allen, added. "If he keeps doing what he's doing, he's a top-10 draft pick in four or five years."

Playing football at the highest level is a dream for Little, and while he hears the predictions, he takes each day as it comes. A day where he gets better than he was the day before is a win.

And maybe, just maybe, he can one day put on a Dallas Cowboys uniform and make soothsayers out of those who first saw him when he was born.

"He's got it," Smith said. "Now it's up to him to finish it."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles.