Cleveland Browns promote ultra-athletic J.T. Hassell from practice squad

The Cleveland Browns have promoted safety J.T. Hassell to the active roster. He may be the second fastest player on the team and can bench the entire training room.

The Cleveland Browns promoted J.T. Hassell from the practice squad to the active roster on Wednesday in order to replace veteran defensive back Morgan Burnett, who was placed on injured reserve with a ruptured Achilles. While the Achilles injury is not good news for the 30-year-old former Steeler, Hassell has the opportunity to fulfill his dream.

Here are some things to know about him. First of all, he is only 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds. He played linebacker at Florida Tech, however, and he is probably too small to be a conventional linebacker, although these days you do see hybrid players who can perform like a strong safety on some plays and linebacker on others.

Nevertheless, in his senior year at Florida Tech, he was a Division II first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, and second-team All-American Division II by the Associated Press. He led the Gulf South Conference in tackles (124), tackles per game (10.3), solo tackles (76) and forced fumbles (3).

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But wait, it gets better. His Pro Day numbers are off the charts and rank favorably with the best and most athletic Cleveland Browns.

He turned in a forty yard dash in 4.38, the same as speedster Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi, who starred as a return man in the preseason this year. Denzel Ward at 4.32 may be the only guy on the team who can take him in the 40-yard dash.

Remember, Hassell weighs only 200 pounds, but he rang up 23 reps for the 225-pound bench press. That is one more than Joe Freaking Schobert. He had a 42-inch vertical leap. That is higher than Ward, Odell Beckham, Jr., David Njoku and Myles Garrett. In fact, he may have the best vertical on the team.

So how in the world did the Browns get a guy like this as an undrafted free agent? Well, for one thing the Browns saw him as a strong safety rather than an undersized linebacker. Second, some scouts were dubious about him because he has a birth defect and does not have a normal left hand.

Some are making a big fuss about the fact he doesn’t have a full left hand. However, rule number one in dealing with disabilities is to emphasize what the person CAN do, and what he DOES have, and not want he can’t do and what he doesn’t have. We can be sure that is the way the kid wants it, and moreover it is obvious that he has HUGE ability.

It is not like he lost a hand and has to learn how to compensate. He has played without that hand his entire life, and rang up All-American stats. Incidentally, Shaquem Griffin of the Seattle Seahawks also has just one hand, so there is not much doubt that a great athlete can play at the highest level even without a fully functional left hand. It is understandable why pro scouts might fear recommending a prospect like this, but this kid should at least be a major contributor on special teams.

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The switch from linebacker to safety is probably more concerning, and it may take a while. Being able to track passes at the NFL level is not easy, no matter if you have one good hand, two or eight like Dr. Octopus. He will get better because from all reports he is a ferociously hard worker and is driven to succeed.

Flat out, this kid WILL MAKE IT. Count on it!

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