ALLEN PARK — There’s an old adage that goes, “Home is where the heart is,” and that couldn’t ring any truer for the Detroit Lions’ newest wide receiver, Isaac TeSlaa.
After some wheeling and dealing, the Lions moved up to No. 70 to select the Arkansas standout, adding to a receiving corps that already features Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond.
At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, the speedy TeSlaa brings a unique dimension to one of the Lions’ most dominant units.
Here are a few things to know about the newest member of the Lions:
Before Arkansas, he dominated in the Division II ranks
TeSlaa was a Division II football standout at Hillsdale College before transferring to Arkansas. At Hillsdale, he won the 2022 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year award after posting more than 1,300 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in a single season.
A native Michigander with an impressive high school athletics background
The former Razorback is a Hudsonville native who played high school football at Unity Christian. Initially starting out as a quarterback, TeSlaa led his school to a state championship as a junior — the first in school history. He also helped the boys basketball team capture a state title and excelled in track and field.
A lifelong Lions fan, as proven during his visit to headquarters
During his tour of the Lions’ practice facility and headquarters, TeSlaa sported a custom Lions jersey with the No. 10 and his name on the back. Lions general manager Brad Holmes joked he initially thought it was some “cheesy move” or “fanboy stuff,” but soon learned TeSlaa had owned the jersey since his youth.
Didn’t become a receiver until college
When TeSlaa graduated high school and started his collegiate career at Hillsdale, he officially switched to wide receiver — a position he played for three seasons before transferring to Arkansas.
His showing at the combine was impressive
TeSlaa turned heads during the 40-yard dash, clocking a blazing time of 4.43 seconds and logging the fastest short-shuttle time among all receivers. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.93 ranked 29th among 3,815 receivers who have participated in the event since 1987.
