Green light

WASILLA — Since he was a young player, David Green’s ultimate goal was to pave his way to Division I football.

Now, one program has given the Wasilla High standout a green light.

Wednesday at the Wasilla VFW, surrounded by his coaches, teammates, friends and family, Green signed his National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and play football for the Running Rebels.

The first-team all-state player was one of 23 committing to UNLV on the first day of the 2011 signing period. Green also became the first Wasilla football player in recent memory to sign with a DI program and earn a scholarship. Green, who stood out on both sides of the ball while playing a variety of positions, is expected to line up at defensive end for the Rebels.

“It’s like a dream coming true,” Green said just moments after inking his intent. “Since I was a little kid, it was my dream to go play Division I football.”

Green, who boasts a time of 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, currently weighs in about 235 pounds.

But Green said coaches would like to pack about 50 pounds onto his 6-foot-4 frame. Glenn Nelson, who coached Green at Wasilla High, said the athletically gifted Green certainly has the potential to flourish at the next level. Nelson said he has seen that potential since he first started working with Green on the Wasilla junior varsity squad.

“(I thought) if this kid ever reaches his potential, the sky is the limit for him,” Nelson said Wednesday.

The UNLV coaching staff also sees that upside.

“He will have tremendous growth potential as a player in our program,” UNLV head coach Bobby Hauck said in a press release issued by UNLV athletics.

Green was recruited as a “big athlete,” by UNLV and is slated to line up at defensive end for the Running Rebels, a team that competes in the Mountain West Conference. Green said it’s a position that best suits him.

“I’m ready for it,” Green said. “Pretty much when it comes to that level, I know people are looking to take your head off. Actually, I want to be one of those looking to take someone’s head off.”

Nelson also said Green will fit better on the defensive side of the ball.

“He has a lot more potential (on defense),” Nelson said. “With his quickness and his skill, I think he can take another step past college.”

Green was a four-year letterman with the Wasilla football program, who also lettered in wrestling, basketball and baseball. He was named All-Railbelt Conference and all-state as both a junior and a senior. In basketball, Green helped the Warriors claim back-to-back Northern Lights Conference titles and advance to the 2009-10 4A state championship game.

But while Green excelled in other sports at WHS, football has always been his first love. He also quickly fell in love with the UNLV coaches and program.

“There was a family environment,” Green said. “All together, that’s just what a football team is. It’s like a family.”

Green was also recruited by the University of Washington, and a number of other programs at a variety of levels expressed interest. But when Green made his official visit to UNLV, he said it just felt right.

“When I went down to UNLV, I just knew I wanted to play nowhere else but there,” Green said.

Green even canceled a scheduled trip to UW after visiting UNLV. Throughout the recruiting process, Green said he felt UNLV made the strongest pitch.

“The coach really captured me. They let me know they wanted to give me a scholarship,” Green said. “The other coaches I was talking to, they weren’t as adamant as these coaches were.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.