By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s Sixth-Round Pick Gets a Crash Course in Confidence—and Originality—from a Pro Bowl Mentor
Learning From the Best
Detroit Lions rookie edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein is soaking up every ounce of wisdom in his first NFL training camp. From Boise State to the Motor City, the sixth-round draft pick is living out his dream—on the same sideline as the man he once studied religiously on film: Aidan Hutchinson.
“I want to kind of steal his moves a little bit,” Hassanein admitted with a laugh. “He plays free. I try to play free. I want to play free and just take that pressure off me, just doing the best I can.”
But while Hutchinson appreciates the rookie’s hunger, he made one thing clear: be yourself.
“Hey Bro, Stop Studying My Tape”
The bond between mentor and mentee is already growing, but Hutchinson hasn’t let the rookie’s imitation go unchecked.
“I remember one time I was coming off the field, he was like, ‘Hey bro, stop studying my tape,’” Hassanein said with a smile. “And I’m like, ‘Man, I’m just trying to be like you, bro.’”
It wasn’t the first time Hassanein expressed his admiration for Hutchinson. Later in the same practice, after a nod of approval from the Pro Bowler, the rookie’s emotion bubbled over.
“I was like, ‘Man, I just want to hug you.’ And I literally told him that. He was like, ‘What?’ I was like, ‘No, bro, I just look up to you so much.’”
It’s a moment that reflects both Hassanein’s humility and the magnetic culture the Lions have built under Dan Campbell.
From Cairo to Canton (Well, Almost)
Though born in the U.S., Hassanein is still relatively new to football—just seven years into his playing career. But his athletic upside and motor were evident in college, where he racked up sacks and disrupted backfields at Boise State.
Still, the NFL is another level. And Hassanein is approaching it with a rare mix of gratitude and grit.
“My mentality is just, whatever you give this game, it’ll give you back,” he said. “The game will respect you.”
That reverence is paired with an unshakable work ethic and faith-driven mindset. He prays daily, aims to improve with every rep, and refers to himself as “an open sponge.”
“You can always do better here. You can always do better here,” he said. “So just be an open sponge and be an open book.”
Embrace the Process
For all the admiration Hassanein has for Hutchinson, Detroit’s rising rookie is learning the most valuable lesson of all: he doesn’t need to be anyone else. His hunger, energy, and perspective are what make him unique—and why he may carve out a role sooner than expected.
As the pads come on and preseason looms, the Lions’ defense is getting more competitive by the day. If Hassanein continues his upward trajectory, Hutchinson’s playful warning might someday come full circle—when another rookie starts copying Hassanein’s tape.
Until then, he’s focused on his own growth.
One day, one rep, one lesson at a time.