Meet Isaac TeSlaa, Lions' local draft pick who began his career as star at D-II Hillsdale College

Billy Heyen

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Meet Isaac TeSlaa, Lions' local draft pick who began his career as star at D-II Hillsdale College image

The Detroit Lions just took a player with one of the most interesting stories in the 2025 NFL Draft.

They traded up to use pick No. 70 in the third round on wideout Isaac TeSlaa out of Arkansas.

But Arkansas is just where TeSlaa finished his college career, not where he started it.

Here's what you need to know:

Who is Isaac TeSlaa?

Isaac TeSlaa is a 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver out of Arkansas.

He's the first graduate of Unity Christian High School (Mich.) to be selected in the NFL Draft.

TeSlaa was a high school quarterback in a Wing-T offense.

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Isaac TeSlaa's D-II career

Isaac TeSlaa didn't have a chance at a big school out of high school because of his Wing-T QB career at Unity Christian HS.

He went to Hillsdale, just like his father. And he became a wide receiver.

TeSlaa earned conference player of the year honors in 2022 and then transferred to Arkansas.

Isaac TeSlaa's big-play potential

TeSlaa didn't have a ton of catches in his final season at Arkansas. 

What he did have was big plays.

TeSlaa averaged 19.5 yards per catch in 2024 with the Razorbacks.

His 6-foot-4 frame ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, good enough to earn him this special, homecoming-style pick.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle