Brad Holmes and the Lions have gone to Egypt for an edge rusher. With a sixth-round pick, Detroit selected Boise State's Ahmed Hassanein.
The first ever NFL Draft pick from Egypt, Hassanein is a raw prospect, having only played football for a handful of years. But his production at Boise State was undeniable: 22 sacks and 33 tackles for loss over his final two seasons.
"I haven’t even reached anything near my top ceiling," Hassanein said.
Hassanein was born in America and moved to Egypt at the age of six with his father, while his mother and older brother stayed in the States. He returned 10 years later and started playing football, teaching himself pass-rushing moves by watching videos on YouTube.
When he saw a video of Aaron Donald with the Rams, Hassanein asked his older brother which school Donald went to. When his brother explained that Donald was in the National Football League, Hassanein said on the spot, "I want to go there."
Known for playing with maniacal effort, Hassanien will need time to hone his technique in the NFL. He's short on experience but long on tools, with the toughness that will make him a fit with the Lions. He said that "offensive linemen hate going against me, because I just keep going after them every play, every play, every play. Even if I get blocked, I get back up and do it again, do it again, do it again."
"I never stop," Hassanein said. "I’m always going, always willing to learn, and never settle. If you teach me something, I will go 100 miles an hour every snap, every play. That’s just who I am. I am ready to die on that football field when a team believes in me. I truly feel that."
In a word, Hassainen described himself as "relentless."
"The thing that I’m most proud of is I’m consistent at doing my job. I don’t do my own thing. I do my job. Whatever coach wants me to do, I’ll do it. And that doesn’t mean playing like a robot, but I’m gonna do my job."
Hassanein said he "couldn’t pick a better team" to join than the Lions, "Super Bowl contenders, culture, family, earning everything." He's especially eager to play for Dan Campbell, going so far as to say, "I would die for that guy."
"Because he believed in me," he said. "Man, when I came to America, I’ll tell you this, nobody believed in me. My brother was the only one. Everybody told me that I would come back (to Egypt) in two weeks, I couldn't even speak English. And look where I am now. I’m so grateful, man. And I’m ready to run through a wall for Coach. Whatever he puts me in, special teams, pass-rushing, whatever, I’m just ready."
Asked what about Campbell resonates with him, Hassainen said, "Man, a guy with grit, honor, respect. Loving his players like they’re his own."
"I remember one time he wanted to have a lion on the field, and that intrigued me a lot," Hassanein said with a laugh. "I was like, man, I would love to play for him. I’m just ready to grow with him. The life lessons that he teaches and the football mentality that he has, I’m just ready to be there and follow him everywhere he goes."