J.T. Hassell is a football player before anything else

Cleveland Browns undrafted rookie safety J.T. Hassell has received some attention due to the fact he was born with a disability, but people better take him seriously as a football player, because he has legitimate talent that could find a role in the NFL.

J.T. Hassell is one of the Cleveland Browns undrafted rookies I believe has a chance to make the final roster. You may have seen stories or listened to interviews where he's talked about the fact he was born without three fingers on his left hand. It's obviously a testament to what he's been able to overcome to get to the NFL.

When I saw the Browns had a player from Florida Tech in for a visit before the draft, I had no idea who he was, so I looked into him. I looked at his outstanding athletic testing and more than enough production in college that I added him to my target list.

I learned the reason he left South Dakota State, a program with a few NFL players in their recent past including tight end Dallas Goedert, running back Zach Zenner and current Browns offensive lineman Bryan Witzman, Hassell transferred to go home and be a father to his child. I went and found tape of him to watch to get an idea of how he plays.

I watched an outside linebacker with incredible speed fly around and hit people. Hard. I watched him stand out on every special teams unit, often being the first guy down on coverage. His speed was obvious and the way he would chase down and hawk guys, he looked like he should've been playing higher level college football.

I've watched him play but it wasn't until after the Browns had signed him that I learned about his hand. You don't notice it unless you're really looking for it and at the level he's playing at, they aren't focusing in on him or specifically his hand that you'd see it. All I noticed was an impressive football player I thought had a chance to make an impact in the NFL.

Now as a member of the Browns, I think he's got a shot to make the team, especially with the team's emphasis on special teams. I do think he can find his way onto the field as a strong safety and contribute in that role. He's the best athlete on the team at that position.

Hassell isn't afraid or uncomfortable talking about his hand when asked about it. Obviously, he's had a lifetime of practice. But Hassell's quick to point out that he doesn't want special treatment and based on what I've seen he doesn't need it.