ALLEN PARK — Loyalty ranks high on the list of things important to rookie pass rusher Ahmed Hassanein.
In this year’s NFL draft, the Lions took a chance on the raw Boise State prospect, selecting him in the sixth round. His athleticism flashed throughout training camp and the preseason, but a pectoral injury sidelined him and ultimately led to the Lions waiving him with an injury settlement.
Even so, Detroit made it clear it wanted to reunite with Hassanein once he was healthy. And because he felt the same way, he turned down offers from other NFL teams and returned to the franchise that believed in him first — which is why he’s back in Detroit now.
In this week’s “5 Questions” segment with MLive, Hassanein discussed his return, what he worked on while away from the team, and how the Metro Detroit Arabic community has embraced him.
So, I know you talked about it when you returned, but just how important was it for you to come back to Detroit specifically when you cleared the injury settlement and everything like that?
I mean, it was really important to me. I am a loyal guy, man. Whoever picks me and believes in me, that kind of means a lot. And it started in college when NIL was getting introduced, and all that was getting introduced. It truly started in college — loyalty and sticking with the program that picked me, believes in me, and gives me the lifestyle I always dreamed of and wanted, something I always admired. And I always look up to maybe somebody like Ashton Jeanty, that had the opportunity to leave, but I look up to that.
Somebody like me — I had the opportunity to leave, but I didn’t, because I don’t want to, because it means a lot to me. And this team just means a lot to me, and it’s just a grit mentality. The hard work screams me — that type of guy that’s going to work his tail off until the wheels really come off. So this, for me, means a lot.
I know you have the CrossFit background, but now you’re going through Dan Campbell practices. Which is more intense?
Definitely the Dan Campbell practice. CrossFit is also hard, man. It’s pretty tough. But man, the practices are definitely harder, which I love.
When you were away from the team, how did you spend your time? What were you doing, if you don’t mind sharing?
Straight just rehabbing. Watching film, watching old film about how people get sacks, how people make TFLs, what they make good, what’s their weakness, how can I improve my game? Also went through my game and saw what critiques I can make, and all that stuff helped me a ton in the future. So now I’m like, okay, I can’t wait to try this move next time. Oh, I can’t wait to try this move. I can’t wait to try this move. And it was just giving me an edge a little bit because I was kind of behind the eight ball a little bit, which is okay, which is fine. That was what God has written for me, which is — hey, I am a believer of that, that God has his timing, and if it’s not mine, then it’s not mine.
But once I have the opportunity, then what am I going to make out of it, you know what I’m saying? So now I have the opportunity to go against the ones, to show myself against the coaches, to show what I learned, to show them, oh, that’s a different type of Ahmed. Oh, he can go get sacks, too. Oh, he can make TFLs. He’s a playmaker, you know what I’m saying? So stuff like that is really important to me. So I hope that stood out on tape.
Given your Egyptian heritage, the Arabic community here was overjoyed when you first landed in Detroit. Have you been able to tap into that community while you’ve been here?
I love it. I get so much support and so much love when I go to Dearborn or step into a restaurant; people recognize me and want to take photos with me. I love that. I’ve always dreamed of that lifestyle, and I’m just trying to give back to this community that’s given back to me. I’m trying to do every community event. I’m trying to build relationships with them. People just want to gift me stuff, and it’s just amazing. Seriously, people are just amazing. And to have that type of light of the world — it’s amazing.
Obviously, you haven’t really stepped into the season yet, but have you had that welcome-to-the-NFL moment — from a teammate, from in practice — where you’re just like, holy crap, I’m in the NFL?
Yeah, I think my welcome moment was my first time in camp. I lined up one time against Penei Sewell, and it was just a walkthrough, and I was like, dang, I’m really going against Penei. That’s kind of crazy. I was like, Wow, that’s kind of crazy. I even told him in the middle of a play. But man, going against him now, I’m just having that confidence. I’m like, okay, he’s just been in the league longer, and he’s done well. I can’t wait to get to that level. I can’t wait to just show him what I can do. I can’t wait to get better. I can’t wait to do all that. I’m just taking one day at a time and one practice at a time, one rep at a time. Even if I get blocked, I’m going to keep going at you.
If you could have blocked me this play, I’m going to beat you the next play, you know what I’m saying? This is just the type of mentality that I have. And it really started in college. It really started with Spencer Danielson. It really started with how hard we practiced in Boise. We practiced hard too — similar to how we practice here — but here, there’s a lot more talent for sure. But in Boise, we really practiced hard too. And that kind of built me up for this type of practice, you know what I’m saying? That prepared me to have a hard practice, which is what we have here.
Last one, just a fun one — what is it like playing on Boise State’s blue turf?
It’s fun, man. It is different. It’s really different. But honestly, once you play, you don’t even recognize it anymore. You just — where’s the ball? Where’s the quarterback? Lemme go get the sack. Okay, lemme go get the TFL. What’s my job? What’s my assignment? What’s my alignment? And then go play ball. So you don’t really recognize it, especially — I don’t know, if you’re on the logo or something, it might be different, you know what I’m saying? And I’m colorblind too, so I don’t really see the blue. So maybe that’s why. If we’re playing and we wear blue, that kind of helps a lot.
But if we’re playing a red team, they stand out like a sore thumb, you know what I’m saying? Like, oh, hold up, you’re the guy right there. But yeah, it is fun. It’s really fun. It’s different. Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. Absolutely, man. No.