Proving People Wrong Proving People Wrong

All Trevor Nowaske really wanted was to be given a shot to play in the NFL, even if he is considered a long shot.

The Detroit Lions are giving him that shot. And, as the undrafted free agent linebacker from Saginaw Valley State and Salem High School walked off the field following a June 1 organized practice at the team’s training facility in Allen Park, Nowaske’s belief in his own ability has never been stronger.

Although the life expectancy of an NFL player can be tenuous at best, Nowaske was just trying to be a sponge and soak up as much as he could.

“I’m just taking it a day at a time, trying to build good relationships,” he said. “Kind of how I got here was through hard

By Brad Emons

work and dedication and just go day by day, just stacking good habits, and what not. Just trying to take those principles and kind of apply them to where I’m at right now.”

The 2017 Salem grad who was a three-time All-Kensington Lakes and two-time All-Metro West selection, landed as a scholarship player at Saginaw Valley, where he red shirted as a freshman and slowly built up his football portfolio over the next four years for the Cardinals.

As a senior in 2022, Nowaske registered 98 tackles, including 9.5 for loss. He also intercepted four passes to go along with seven break-ups en route to All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first-team honors after earning honorable mention as a junior.

In 44 career games, he proved to be a tackling machine with 232 total, including 20 for loss with 5.5 sacks (with five INTs). When Nowaske walked off the field in a season-ending 21-20 loss on Nov. 13 at Michigan Tech, he knew his football career was far from over and it could become the start of something big.

Turning Heads

Nowaske first caught the eye of NFL scouts during a GLIAC pro day on March 16 at the Legacy Center in Brighton where he ran a pair of 4.50 seconds in the 40yard dash and leaped 10 feet, 2 inches in the standing broad jump. And it was there when Nowaske began to turn heads as his measurables tested off the charts where he graded out as elite in both the speed and agility, as well as in the size (6-3, 237

It was no secret during his time at Saginaw Valley that Nowaske was considered a sure tackler who could easily be productive dropping into coverage while also possessing great ball skills. He also played with a relentless motor.

“Coming out of my senior year definitely wasn’t highly recruited by any teams at all, didn’t really talk to a lot of scouts, but I had my GLIAC pro day where I did pretty well,” Nowaske said. “The

Lions were there. I talked to the Lions after and came to their local day, which I felt like I did well there, and obviously now I’m here, but I felt that’s what really helped to get me an opportunity.”

He met with the Lions staff and went through some additional drills before being signed as an undrafted free agent on May 12 by his hometown team.

“It was unreal,” said Nowaske, who now wears jersey number 59. “The day of the (NFL) draft, a lot of mixed emotions – high- special. Really excited for the opportunity and we’ll see what happens.”

Nowaske was among nine rostered linebackers during the Lions’ OTAs. He and first-round pick Jack Campbell (Iowa) were the only rookies among nine during the first stage of camp.

“I played special teams throughout my college career and in high school, and now being an undrafted guy, it really helps if you can kind of play a role on special teams,” Nowaske said. “And that’s something I’ve talked to the special teams coach…and obviously we’ll see if there’s a chance, but it’s something I pride myself on. I just want to make a statement come camp.”

Although he came from an NCAA Division II program, Nowaske hopes to follow a long list of GLIAC players who have made it to the NFL.

Nowaske so far has been learning the mental side of the game where he is constantly delving into the playbook.

“That’s probably been the biggest adjustment,” he said. “I leave the facility at 6 or 7 at night, and after I go home, I’m studying more. That has been the biggest jump, but I feel like I’ve been here for a couple of weeks now I kind of understood what it takes and how to understand the playbook with all the checks and what not. It’s been a little bit of a jump, but I feel like it’s definitely slowing down day by day and that’s all you can ask for.”

‘ALL ABOUT FOOTBALL’

During the pre-draft process, Nowaske would meet with scouts. And one of the questions that popped up concerned what his outside interests or hobbies might be.

Nowaske is trying to become the second Lion to earn a spot on the 2023 roster with local Plymouth-Canton ties. He hopes to join 2022 first-round pick and All-Rookie selection Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan/Dearborn Divine Child).

low – kind of being an undrafted guy. You really didn’t know what to expect. But couldn’t have asked for a better situation being a hometown kid and being a Lions fan all my life. Like I said, being a part of this is unreal. Every day kind of waking up and it’s ‘Oh my gosh, I’m really here.’ Definitely still in awe, still a little star struck, but I’m adapting to it every day.”

The Next Level

While being a fan growing up and now walking around the complex in Allen Park, Nowaske is still pinching himself.

“Every day I see something new,” he said. “I’m still adjusting to everything, figuring out the hallways and what not. But honestly, just coming from a fan to now being a teammate of these guys has been really

“I hang myself on being physical,” he said. “Now a days, it’s all about speed -- and I’m fast as well. But it’s also about physicality at the linebacker position. I’m a very sure tackler. I’m good in space, I’m good in coverage, so I think those attributes will help me succeed at this level.”

Nowaske does have speed going back to his high school days. That became evident during his senior year at Salem where he was a member of the All-State fourth-place 4 x 100-meter relay team at the 2017 MHSAA Division 1 finals.

“The big difference is everyone is good, but you know I’m also a really good athlete,” Nowaske said. “The speed is better, but at the same time I can hang. I know that and I feel like I belong, so I think that’s important – self-confidence.”

The biggest eye opener for

“I told them, ‘I don’t have any and don’t plan on having any for a while,’” Nowaske said. “It’s all about football and that’s how it will continue to be until it’s not.”

Nowaske plans to take the same approach that he took in high school where he started for three years with the Rocks under coach Kurt Britnell before moving on to Saginaw Valley.

“Coach Brit, big props to him,” Nowaske said. “I still keep in touch with him and still have a relationship with him. My years at Salem -- we weren’t super successful I would say…we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to, but we definitely stacked year by year. We continuously got better and did the little things to try and build a culture. I kind of took those principles to Saginaw, and at the same time when I got up there, we weren’t very good and we kind of ended on a pretty good note, being 8-3.”

“It’s kind of funny,” Nowaske said. “We know of each other, but at the same time we didn’t. We also train at the same place, so we always crossed paths but we hadn’t formally been introduced to each other. We’ve talked a couple of times. We know similar people, so kind of a small world with him obviously being from Plymouth. And then I did find out we played on the same little league team, but he’s younger than me, so we both played for OLGC (Our Lady of Good Counsel). Yeah, it’s a small world being on the same team and I’m really excited.”

IV

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