A look inside some NFL Draft prospects with ties to the Lions, and what they had to say about Detroit’s new coaches.
In the Detroit Lions ’ latest round of coaching hires, they pulled a few guys from the college ranks. That made the NFL Combine a unique opportunity to get a perspective on these coaches through the eyes of players who have been directly impacted by their coaching.
So I chatted with four of those players—all of which play skill positions—to get the inside scoop on Detroit’s new coaching staff. And given the character and skill set of some of these players, don’t be surprised if one or two of them end up on the Lions roster this April.
Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor
What he said about Lions pass game coordinator David Shaw:
“He really coached us in more than just football, he coached us in life, and I really appreciate him for that. So I think they’re getting a really great coach. I actually met with them and I got to see him again. It was awesome to see a familiar face like that.”
Ayomanor may have been the best press conference I went to all week. He was was poignant, informative, and had a couple of neat stories.
If you don’t know his origin story, he grew up in Alberta, Canada as a hockey and football player. Everything changed at age 14, when he ran into Justin Dillon a sports consultant who encourages Canadian football players to play high school ball in the states. Manor dropped hockey, became a football and track star, and eventually landed at Stanford after being recruited by Shaw.
There is not a single ounce of ego within Ayomanor, as evidenced by his answer to how he found so much success in his 2023 double-overtime win against Colorado and star cornerback Travis Hunter (13 catches, 294 yards, 3 TDs; PFF credits Hunter with allowing 11 catches for 158 yards and 2 TDs).
“It’s honestly going to be a whole team thing every time you have a big performance like that. In the second half, the line really held their own out there. Obviously, Ashton was delivering the ball accurately and on-time. That’s all you can ask for as a receiver. When you get those opportunities with the ball on time and on target, you just have to capitalize on them, and that’s what I ended up doing.”
A big-bodied receiver (6-foot-2, 210) who believes his speed is getting overlooked, Ayomanor describes his talents as the tenacity of Cardinals receiver Mike Wilson, the get-off of Calvin Ridley, and his style is most similar to AJ Brown, with the way he uses his size and physicality.
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins
What he had to say about Lions TE coach Tyler Roehl
“Coach Roehl, he’s a great coach. A high-energy guy. Man, that guy, he’s always going to come to the facility ready to go. First time I met him, he acts like he’s one of the guys that’s been there forever.”
A big-bodied, X-receiver type (6-foot-4, 215), the Lions may have to spend a first or second-round pick to acquire Higgins. But Higgins believes he’s much more than a big, long contested catch weapon—although he’ll also be quick to remind you of his play-making abilities, as evidenced by his top-25 ranking in PFF’s contested catches (14) and contested catch rate (58.3).
“Not only my size, but just being able to move like a small receiver,” Higgins said of his strengths. “I’m big, 6-(foot)-4, but I can play in the slot, I can play inside and out, and just make those plays at the end of the day.”
Higgins finished 2024 10th in the nation in receiving yards (1,183) and only recorded two drops all year. He attributes his strong hands to a daily routine that may sound familiar: catching 100 balls from the JUGS machine. I had to ask what was the inspiration for that, hoping he’d say Amon-Ra St. Brown. It wasn’t, but he offered a strong answer.
“I think I just picked it up trying to be better than the other guys,” Higgins said. “Just put in that extra work and just add something to my resume.”
I also asked him to give a scouting report on his teammate Jaylin Noel, of which he said: “First and foremost, his speed, his playmaking abilities, and then just as far as him being a leader, he’s a great leader and a great teammate.”
Speaking of which…
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel
What he had to say about Lions TE coach Tyler Roehl
“Very energetic. He’s going to come and be a very energetic person each day. He’s going to be the same person each day, no matter if he’s tired or not. I’ve never seen him tired, because of how much energy he brings each day. So he gets the juices going within the offense. So he’s a very great coach.”
Noel is a very different type of receiver, listed at 5-foot-11, 200 on Iowa State ’s website. As Higgins notes, he wins with his speed, but he made sure to point out it’s all about controlled speed.
“Changing in tempo, being able to decelerate and accelerate very fast, it helps,” Noel said.
Noel also brings strong character to the next level. He was two year co-captain and consistently landed on All-Big 12 academic teams.
At the NFL level, he also brings returner potential, having returned 53 punts and 37 kickoffs in his four years as a Cyclone.
Fun fact about Noel: his roots are from Ireland. His grandfather met his Irish grandmother while he was in the Navy in Spain. Unfortunately for Noel, Iowa State plays Kansas State in Ireland this upcoming season.
“I was just late being able to go over there, which sucks, but I’m happy for them. I’m excited for those guys to be able to get that experience.”
Texas RB Jaydon Blue
What he had to say about Lions RB Tashard Choice
“He not only made me a better player on the field, but off the field. He’s a guy that anyone can go to whenever they want something off the field. And he’s just a genius when it comes to the running back position. He can do a lot of things, he’s coached a lot of guys in the NFL. So he brings a lot to the coaching staff.”
“In my opinion, he’s the best coach that I’ve had ever in football. Not only on the field, but he’s taught me a lot off the field. I had a lot of serious conversations with him that he’s helped me get through a lot of stuff. So anyone who gets him is getting a guy who not only cares about football, but he cares about the player more.”
Blue is a late-round prospect, potential UDFA, but his ties with Lions running back coach Tashard make him worth paying attention to. That said, if he accomplishes what he hopes to at the NFL Combine on Saturday, everyone is going to know his name very soon.
“I think I’ll break the (40-yard dash) record,” Blue said. “I think I’ll run maybe 4.1 or I’ll be 4.20. But I for sure think I could go get it.”
While that certainly seems a bit lofty, Blue is a bit more realistic about the roles he’ll face early at the NFL ready, and he’s ready to take on whatever awaits him.
“I’m willing to do whatever, what’s best for the team,” Blue said. “Whether that’s me having to play special teams, or me having to take a lot of reps or not a lot of reps.”