Hassanein was coming off a senior season at Boise State where he totaled 17 quarterback hits (third-most in the FBS) and 62 total pressures (fifth-most) while collecting 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. Hassanein stood out in the East-West Shrine Bowl, too.
He only picked up football in 2019 when he moved back to the United States after a decade of growing up in Egypt with a focus on CrossFit training. It’s what Holmes meant when he said Hassanein still has some things to learn — he simply hasn’t been playing the game that long. But Holmes said Hassanein’s physicality, toughness and motivation jumped off the tape. He knew he’d fit in Detroit and why he made Hassanein a sixth-round pick (No. 196 overall).
“We acquired him because he plays with his hair on fire, and as, let’s call it developmental, as he is, he just – he plays hard,” Holmes said. “What do you have to do at that position? You’ve got to set edges and win rushes, and when I say win rushes, it’s not just getting a sack, you can win rushes just by harassment and power and collapsing the pocket and just sheer effort.”
That definitely jumps out on Hassanein’s tape. He’s relentless on the edge and there’s no teaching that. A player has it or they don’t. Technique, hand placement and scheme can all be taught. But a player either wants it more than the guy across from him or he doesn’t, and that’s something Holmes and the Lions don’t have to worry about with Hassanein.