Tag: LSU

Lions draft EDGE Ahmed Hassanein in 6th and G Miles Frazier in 5th round

The Lions finally drafted an EDGE rusher when they selected Ahmed Hassanein from Boise State in the sixth round (196th overall) on Saturday. In the fifth round Detroit moved up to draft guard Miles Frazier out of LSU (171st).

Hassanein (pictured) is the first Egyptian to be drafted and would be the first Egyptian to ever play in the NFL. He started all 14 games in each of the last two seasons when he was first-team All-Mountain West. In 2024 he was tied for the team lead with 15.5 tackles for loss and led the team with 9.5 sacks.

He’s an amazing story as a newcomer who didn’t know anything about the game of football until he arrived in Southern California almost seven years ago. He didn’t even speak English, but eventually hooked up with the perfect scenario and a coach who believed in him at Boise State.

While he impressed the Lions, it’s obvious that coach Dan Campbell hit the perfect note with him.

“Whoever believes in me, that means the world to me, especially Dan Campbell. I would die for that guy, I would run through a wall for him,’’ said Hassanein who is 6-3 and 271 pounds.

He must have done his homework on the Lions because he seemed to have a real feel for the culture and feel of the team. “Super Bowl contenders, culture, family, earning everything — I couldn’t ask for a better team. It’s the perfect fit for me,’’ Hassanein said. “I love the Detroit Lions. I can’t wait to come in and work my butt off and help the team. Whatever they need, I’ll be there.’’

He was an athlete when he moved to California — he had done CrossFit and played other sports in Egypt — but didn’t know anything about football. He learned from his brother and watched YouTube videos. Initially, he wasn’t aware the NFL existed.

“It means the world to me. I can’t describe how I feel right now, it’s a dream come trueI couldn’t pick a better team,’’ Hassanein said. “I’m so honored, and so blessed to be a Detroit Lion. I’m super grateful. It means the world to me, seriously.’’

Earlier on Saturday, the Lions moved up to 171st in the fifth round to draft guard Miles Frazier of LSU. Detroit traded their 182nd and 228th picks to the Patriots to make the pick.

The 6-6, 317-pound offensive lineman started all 13 games in each of the last three seasons at LSU after transferring from Florida International. He allowed just 4 sacks in his collegiate career.  He started mostly at right and left guard, but said he was the backup tackle on both sides. In 2023 he was a finalist for the nation’s top offensive line award.

“I just want to be a part of something greater and I’m ready to compete. At the end of the day competition breeds excellence,’’ Frazier said in a conference call.

He describes himself as “more of a mauler.” 

Frazier said he just met Tate Ratledge (the Lions’ second-round pick) during the pre-draft process and said they have a good relationship. 

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein: “Frazier has things to clean up but carries pro measurables and a play demeanor that gives him a shot to become a starter.’’

Per Zierlein, Frazier compares to Rams guard Jonah Jackson who was drafted by the Lions in 2020.

Detroit Lions trade up, draft DT Mekhi Wingo from LSU in 6th round

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions traded up to draft DT Mekhi Wingo in the sixth round of Saturday’s draft. Detroit traded picks 205 and 249 to the Houston Texans to move up to 189.

Wingo, who is undersized at 6-foot and 284 pounds, calls himself a disruptor who likes a violent style of football. Sounds like a perfect fit for coach Dan Campbell.

“To make up for the lack of size I have to do the ordinary things extremely well,’’ Wingo said on a conference call on Saturday. “Like I have to have better eyes than a guy who is 6-5 and my hand placement has to be better. I’ve been undersized my whole life, it’s not just something that just happened.’’

In 2023, Wingo played in eight games with seven starts at LSU. He missed the end of the regular season with a lower-body injury, but returned for the team’s ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin. Many players heading to the NFL, skip the bowl game but it was important to Wingo and speaks to his character.

“Of course I could’ve just packed it up, declared and did this, but it really got to me watching my team lose a few games and me being on the sidelines,’’ Wingo said in a conference call on Saturday. “Once I had my surgery I just rehabbed my butt off and made the emphasis to get back on the field and be with my guys one last time.’’

A team captain, he finished the season with 25 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He started his collegiate career at Missouri and transferred to LSU for the 2022 season.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein projected him as a fourth-round pick.

Zierlein’s analysis: “Wingo is a shade undersized, but his tape is fun to watch. He is compact and powerful, with the ability to separate and play off of lateral blocks quickly. He can be overcome by length or mass at times but is rarely dominated. He has first-step quickness and processing to beat blockers to erase their landmarks and is tremendously agile as a short-space tackler. Wingo has a hop-and-chop rush move typically seen from defensive ends and will be too athletic for some guards to handle as a pass rusher. Wingo could become an early backup as an even-front 3-technique but he has three down-potential and could eventually become a starter.”

He’s the Lions’ third defensive pick this draft. They selected cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the first two rounds. Wingo is the first defensive player out of LSU that the Lions have drafted since 1974. He and Rakestraw were teammates at Missouri for one season.