While the Detroit Lions focus on trying to patch up their defensive line in the absence of starter Levi Onwuzurike, they are beginning to get a sense of who they may be able to rely on in a pinch as a part of their second or third string unit during the regular season.
One of those players is Ahmed Hassanein, the Lions’ sixth round pick from this year’s draft. Hassanein has had quite the journey to the NFL – he came over from Egypt where he’d established himself as one of the best crossfit competitors in the country and played Division I football with Boise State for all four years of his collegiate career.
Hassanein has now landed in one of the most contentious divisions in the NFL, and he’s landed alongside one of the best defenders in the league in Aidan Hutchinson. The ability to pick the brain of someone who very well could have been last year’s sack leader prior to going down with a broken leg early in the season is something Hassanein has reportedly been utilizing.
“It’s such a blessing, you know? Aidan was the guy where I was like, ‘okay, I want to steal some of his moves, a little bit.’ When he swings inside and goes make a tackle, he plays free. I try to play free, I want to play free, you know? I just want to take the pressure off of me. Learning from Aidan, though, I remember I was like sneaking inside, sneaking outside, and I’m coming off the field and he goes, ‘hey bro, stop studying my tape!’ And I’m like, I’m just trying to be like you, bro. When I came off the field, he was like ‘good job, man,’ and I was like, I just wanna hug you. And he was like, what? [laughs] But, I was just like, I look up to you so much. He’s an amazing dude, and I can’t wait to keep learning and keep stacking and keep growing.”Ahmed Hassanein
Hassanein has perfect veteran to lean on in Hutchinson
Hutchinson has been turning heads throughout the start of training camp for apparently looking better than he did to start the 2024 season. This is quite the update considering he’s coming off of a major leg break to his tib/fib area. But, he’s obviously motivated to contend this year and bounce back from only his second “major” injury of his football career.
“It takes those physical things to happen to you to mentally kind of solidify where you are at and the confidence and moving past it,” said Hutchinson in camp according to team reporter Tim Twentyman.
It’s obvious that the team is excited to see what Hassanein has to offer, with DC Kelvin Sheppard immediately getting excited about the prospect of seeing him with pads on in training camp as his effort and passion will translate more clearly with a more physical allowance in practice.
“He’s everything we’re about here. Like I said, it’s just that development piece, the learning curve. This guy’s a rookie. He just started playing football a few years ago. He just started learning the freaking English language six, seven years ago. So let’s not turn this guy into Lawrence Taylor. He’s on a developmental swing, but he’s been afforded the opportunity to work with one of the best, if not the best in the league in my opinion, in Kacy Rogers. I’m already seeing it. I saw it in the spring. That guy’s all there. Whatever his potential is, he’ll reach it because he’s gonna work at it.”
Hassanein is a pretty explosive pass rusher who just needs refinement around the edges. He’s absorbing the playbook from Sheppard and defensive line coach Kacy Rogers, and we’ll probably see some burn from him during the preseason as they look to get him acclimated to the NFL and its speed prior to the regular season.
