Ahmed Hassanein remembers the times of studying play soccer in his half-brother’s small kitchen in California.
The 6-foot-2, 267-pound former Boise State defensive finish, who was the primary Egyptian drafted into the NFL final month by Detroit, created a brand new reminiscence Friday by taking snaps on the Lions rookie minicamp.
“I’m simply so grateful, so honored to be right here,” Hassanein stated. “It’s type of like doesn’t really feel actual. It’s like I don’t wish to go away the sector. I find it irresistible. The teaching, my teammates, simply the competitiveness, it’s been nice. And I’m simply trying ahead to tomorrow and simply take it daily.”
Hassanein, who was chosen within the sixth spherical with the 196th decide, stated one of many largest moments he is had since arriving at minicamp was assembly coach Dan Campbell. When he was drafted, an exuberant Hassanein proclaimed, “ I might die for that man. I might run by way of a wall for him like I ran by way of a wall for Coach D (Boise State coach Spencer Danielson).”
As he got here out to the apply subject, the 2 lastly met and shook arms.
“It seems unreal,” he stated. “He’s an superior man. I’m simply trying ahead to be taught from him off the sector and on the sector.”
It’s hoped that Hassanein will assist fill the sting rusher gap that the Lions have reverse Aidan Hutchinson.
“I’ll say about Ahmed is he’s relentless,” Lions assistant common supervisor Ray Agnew stated Friday. “He performs the sport the way in which we wish to play. He performs it laborious. He’s a second-effort rusher. He can win with arms as a rusher. … And I believe when (defensive position ) coach (Kacy) Rodgers get his arms on him to educate him up, the child’s going to be a great participant for us. So we’re enthusiastic about him.”
To stay as much as the Lions’ hopes, Hassanein is aware of he has plenty of work forward of him and is prepared for the problem.
“I search for hardships,” he stated. “I wish to get higher at stuff. I wish to as a result of I don’t wish to take the straightforward manner out. I wish to earn all the things. I don’t need nothing to be given to me.”
Hassanein, who moved to California in 2018 from Cairo, Egypt, stated he has been stunned by the outpouring of consideration that he is been receiving from Egyptians.
“Man, it’s being the primary Egyptian you’re speaking about tradition and groups,” he stated. “People look out to me. I get texts on a regular basis that individuals simply wish to be like me, impressed to be like me. I’m simply so grateful and so honored that Jesus pulled me on this place. I imply, I’m gonna give all of it I acquired.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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