Aidan Hutchinson, DE
Hutch has famous Michigan roots. Born in Plymouth, he attended Divine Child High School and went on to star at the University of Michigan, where he was a standout defensive end, racking up 15 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in his senior year. He almost won the Heisman as a defensive player.
Drafted second overall by the Lions in 2022, he has become a cornerstone of the defense and was on pace to break the NFL single-season sack record last season before breaking his leg in week 6.
Graham Glasgow, C
Although he was born in Illinois, Glasgow walked on to the University of Michigan football team in 2011 and developed into a reliable offensive lineman, earning a scholarship in 2013. He was selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft and spent four seasons with the team before a stint with the Denver Broncos. He returned to Detroit in 2023.
After playing guard for the past few years, Frank Ragnow’s sudden retirement has meant that the Wolverine is now starting at center.
Pat O’Connor, DE
Born in Chicago, O’Connor played at Eastern Michigan University, where he recorded impressive sack numbers. The Lions drafted him in the seventh round in 2017. He later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bouncing between the practice squad and active roster until 2023.
He signed with the Lions in 2024 and saw significant playing time due to massive injuries to the defense in the latter half of last season.
Trevor Nowaske, LB
Trevor Nowaske is a true Michigan native. Born in Canton, he attended Salem High School before heading to Division II Saginaw Valley State University. At SVSU, Nowaske was a standout linebacker and joined the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
After a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals, he has worked his way onto the active roster, providing depth as a linebacker and contributing on special teams.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR
Hudsonville native and rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa attended Unity Christian High School, where he played quarterback and safety in a wing-T offense.
He began his college career at Hillsdale College, where he learned to play wide receiver, and had a breakout junior year. He moved to Division I by transferring to Arkansas, where he put up solid numbers. TeSlaa stunned at the NFL combine, with a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and 39.5-inch vertical jump—incredible numbers for a 6’4″ receiver.
The Lions moved up into the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft to draft TeSlaa, who then caught three touchdown passes in the preseason. In his first regular-season game as a Lion, the young man from West Michigan made one of the best catches we’ll see all year.
Mark Naida is editor of Michigan Enjoyer.
