ALLEN PARK -- Isaac TeSlaa is living his dream playing for the Detroit Lions.
Brad Holmes, the team’s general manager, has told the story of the Hudsonville native showing up for his pre-draft visit in a customized Lions jersey from his past life.
And now that TeSlaa has put his own Lions jersey and helmet on for the first time, he’s loving every minute of it.
“It feels great. No. 18,” TeSlaa said after his first rookie minicamp session. “Yeah, it’s a surreal thing, man. It feels amazing. Obviously, he was talking about me coming in on my visit, wearing my custom jersey I got a few years ago.
“But it’s much better to be wearing my own number with my name on the back, just go out here and make plays and just learn the offense and just be a part of this. It’s awesome.”
Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew said he believes TeSlaa “was born to be a Lion.” His lifelong love of the franchise and those dreams of playing for his hometown team are one thing. But Agnew pointed to how he plays the game, as well.
Holmes and Agnew both echoed the fact that TeSlaa, the former Hillsdale College standout who finished his career at Arkansas, landed on their radar at the Senior Bowl. They said TeSlaa was a pest to defensive backs, and his competitiveness stood out when blocking in the running game.
“He was just wearing those DBs out, I mean just wearing them out,” Agnew said. “And then the guy catches the ball. Everything is with his hands. He barely ever uses his body. Tough kid, good run after the catch. We’re excited about him. I think he’s got a ways to go.
“I think the upside this kid has, he’s got a chance to be a really good player for us. He’s got to grow some as a route runner, play more on the outside ... When I first saw him, he had a Lions pullover on. Then, the next time I saw him, he had a Lions jersey on. I was like, ‘Man, this kid is meant to be a Lion.’ What a great kid. We enjoyed (that) -- glad we were able to get this kid, he was born to be a Lion.”
TeSlaa said he’s right there with Agnew, in that this is where he was born to be, and he’s so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of what they are building. He wrote in his yearbook that he wanted to play for the Lions, and then there is the viral video of his draft call.
The moment TeSlaa says, “Thank you, Mrs. Ford,” his family and friends started screaming and cheering at the realization.
“Yeah, it was amazing. I’m sure you saw the video my mom posted, she’s all excited, she got a million-some views on it, and she got some followers, so she thinks she’s an influencer now or something,” TeSlaa said. “Obviously, the TV was a little delayed, so I didn’t even see the Lions trade up, and all of a sudden I’m getting a call from a 313 number, I just about passed out.
“I mean, I couldn’t hardly believe it. I stood up, and everyone was still talking. I was like, ‘Everybody shut up.’ I picked up the call, and he said, ‘This is Brad Holmes, GM with the Detroit Lions,’ and I almost fell to the ground. It was very surreal. I don’t know if I remember a single world that anyone said to me after that point.”
For now, he’s adjusting to life at the next level as rookie minicamp gets underway for the weekend. The Lions want to see him play inside and outside, viewing him as a high-upside developmental prospect.
Lions regular season wins line is set at 10.5 on bet365 for the upcoming NFL season. Our complete list of Michigan sportsbook promos will help you decide which sportsbook to use.
TeSlaa’s size stuck out like a sore thumb at Friday’s practice, and his speed and athletic ability are impossible to miss. He was one of the top athletes in the draft, running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash with a 39.5-inch vertical at 6-foot-4. He’s met and talked with some of the veterans on the offense, saying Amon-Ra St. Brown welcomed him to the team on draft night with some texts back and forth.
“Yeah, I’m sure we’ll talk more later. It was more of just a ‘How ya doing?’” TeSlaa said on Friday afternoon. “But that’s someone I’m really gonna look up to. Obviously, I love the way he plays the game. I love his process. So I’d say everyone in the room, I just have so much to learn from, and I’m just gonna be a sponge.”
