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The Detroit Lions were more than thrilled to scoop up the top-rated player in the NFL Draft on Thursday with the second pick overall.
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The Jacksonville Jaguar opted for Georgia defensive end Travon Walker and that meant Michigan native and University of Michigan standout Aidan Hutchinson was available and quickly scooped up by the Lions.
Detroit wasted no time on the clock before selecting Hutchinson, who is a 6-foot-6, 260-pound defensive end that was highest-graded player in the draft class according to Pro Football Focus
“I’m happy I get to go back to Detroit,” the 21-year-old Hutchinson said in an interview with the NFL Network after the selection. “Back to the Motor City. Hopefully, win some ball games. I’m fired up.”
His dad, Chris Hutchinson, was an All-American defensive lineman during his four years at the University of Michigan from 1989-92.
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His son followed him to the University of Michigan where he set a school record with 14 sacks last season while helping the team to a Big Ten title.
Hutchinson high motor and on the field commitment to do whatever it takes to win seems a perfect marriage with the philosophy of Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell.
He was not only named Big Ten MVP last year, but the conference’s defensive player of the year and defensive lineman of the year.
Hutchinson was a Heisman Trophy finalist while being named the Lombardi Award winner as college football lineman of the year and the Ted Hendricks Award as college football’s top defensive end.
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