UMass product and former Hansen winner becomes latest Sachem product linked to NFL team
Sachem alum Steven Casali has been invited to attend rookie mini camp with the Detroit Lions.
“All I needed was an opportunity,” Casali said via Twitter. “Thank you Lions for inviting me to your mini camp.”
Casali, who won the Hansen Award as the top player in Suffolk County as a senior at Sachem East in 2012, played 50 career games at linebacker for UMass, generating 224 total tackles.
He joins Sachem North product Dalton Crossan as the only Sachem alumni currently associated with NFL teams. Crossan signed as a free-agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this off-season. He was with the Colts last year in training camp prior to sustaining an injury and being waived.
Jumbo Elliott remains the only Sachem alum to play in the NFL after he was drafted by the Giants out of Michigan and spent more than 10 years in New York, ultimately winning Super Bowl XXV.
Alums Brian Bravy (Falcons practice squad), Doug Shanahan (Jets training camp), and Chris Manno (training camp with Chiefs and off-season with Panthers) all flirted with NFL dreams, but did not play in any regular season games.
The Lions will host mandatory minicamp from June 5-7.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro / Photo Courtesy UMass Athletics