THE Detroit lions There are no shortage of representation of Michigan, with the defensive winger Aidan Hutchinson, the large receiver Ronnie Bell, the offensive line player Graham Glasgow and the defensive line Pat O’Conner playing in the schools of Michigan before obtaining his diploma in Honolulu Blue.
But the Lions Also have a link with certain less known Michigan schools. Two players in the active alignment of the team come from division II programs: the secondary Anthony Pittman (Wayne State) and the second Trevor Nowaske (Saginaw Valley State). In addition, two players from the this week recruit camp come from the D-II ball: the choice of rebate of the third round 2025 Isaac Teslaa (Hillsdale College) and the Non-repeated signatory Ian Kennelly (Grand Valley State).
Detroit Lions Safety Ian Kennelly (27) trains during the Mini Camp Recruit at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Friday, May 9, 2025.
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Lions, however, do not show any special preference for local players when assessing talent, according to deputy director general Ray Agnew.
“I wouldn’t say that we pay special attention. We love good football players,” he said. “And of course, we love Detroit children, and local children who make the team are always a good story.”
Although Teslaa was transferred to Arkansas for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the native of Hudsonville played his first three university years in Hillsdale. But Teslaa said that it had not slowed her down by continuing her NFL dream:
“I tried not to think too much about the future, in a way to live in the present. Obviously, do everything I could to put myself in place to reach this level at some point,” he said. “When I was old enough to think, I always thought I was going to be an NFL player.”
The broad receiver of the Detroit Lions Isaac Teslaa speaks after training during the minicamp recruit at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Friday, May 9, 2025.
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As a non -drafted recruit of Grand Valley State, Kennelly was not as confident as Teslaa about her own university beginnings:
“No matter the level you play, your chances are not great, right? My state of mind has always been:” Continue to work, try to surpass everyone. “And I knew that if I did that, it would all work,” he said.
One thing that Kennelly values in the establishment of Lions is the proximity of his family and friends.
“I don’t have to worry about the trip. Everything I need, I had an excellent support staff, I had friends and family in the region,” he said. “So it’s really a blessing, it’s true, just not having to leave the state.”
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A model that the two recruits can follow is that of Nowaske, which initially signed with the lions as an un residged free agent of Saginaw Valley State in 2023 before finally being part of the team.
Although it was claimed by the Cardinals of Arizona off the derogations in 2024, he returned to the Lions in September and ended up making two departures for Detroit.
Detroit Lions Safety Ian Kennelly (27) trains during the Mini Camp Recruit at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Friday, May 9, 2025.
“I’m from here, I went to the university here, this is my first NFL team, I had never been outside Michigan Living Wise,” he told The Free Press in September. “As I said, we are back where we belong.”
It is a feeling shared by Teslaa, who grew up in a fan of the lions and who said that Angnew said “born to be a lion”.
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“To carry my own number, my name on the back, and just go out here and make games and learn the offensive and be part of this, it’s great,” said Teslaa.
This group of Lions recruits presents other natives from Michigan, including the Ballon bearer Anthony Tyus III (Portage) and the tight set Caden Prieskorn (Lake Orion). But the first day of the Recruit camp, more eyes were on Teslaa, who played for the last time at Ford Field Win a state championship In 2018 as Hudsonville Unity Christian quarterrier.
“It was a dream in itself there and to win a state championship (AT) Ford Field. I did not know that I would be back a little later by wearing the lions jersey.”
You can reach Christian at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Strait Lions Rookie Class Feats Pair of D-II Michigan Manrs
