By Sunday 
If you’ve spent any time around the Detroit Lions’ training camp this summer, you’ve probably heard it: the voice of sixth-round rookie Ahmed Hassanein—fired up, fearless, and full of energy. But it’s not just the volume that’s turning heads. It’s who he’s echoing.
A Rookie Channeling a Star
Hassanein, a former Cairo native who only started playing football at 16, has made one thing clear: he wants to be just like Aidan Hutchinson. And he’s not subtle about it.
“In college, he was the guy I was like, ‘OK, I want to steal his moves a little bit,’” Hassanein shared. Now, he’s doing exactly that—only not just from film, but side-by-side on the practice field.
Case in point: After watching Hutchinson burn past a tackle with a slick two-step jab into a swim move, Hassanein went out and did the exact same thing on the very next rep.
The reaction?
“Hey bro, stop studying my tape!” Hutchinson shouted with a laugh.
Hassanein just grinned: “Man, I’m just trying to be like you.”
From Fangirl Moment to Sideline Respect
Later, on the sideline, the admiration spilled out again.
“I was like, ‘Man, I just want to hug you,’” Hassanein recalled.
“He was like, ‘What?’ And I said, ‘No bro, I just look up to you so much. I just want to be like you.’”
The honesty is almost disarming. But make no mistake—this isn’t fanboy behavior. It’s a rookie laser-focused on growth, and Hutchinson is noticing.
“Ahmed has a chance to be a great player,” Hutchinson said.
Raw, Loud, and Relentless
Through just five practices, Hassanein has built a reputation: high motor, high energy, and zero hesitation. He might not always finish the play, but the burst off the line and the instinct to learn are already there.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard isn’t cutting him any slack though. After winning a rep but failing to finish it, Sheppard lit him up:
“Go make the play! You won! Just go make the play!!”
Hassanein, never one to sulk, nodded eagerly. “I love that he can get on me and can yell at me,” he said. “I love that coaching and the competitiveness that he brings.”
That mindset might be his most dangerous weapon.
The Bottom Line
Ahmed Hassanein isn’t just another camp body. He’s a project with upside, a rookie learning fast, and a walking echo of Detroit’s defensive leader.
If he keeps absorbing, mimicking, and grinding like this, he won’t just be the loudest voice at camp—he might become one of the most important.