Social media reaction to Aidan Hutchinson being drafted by his home-city Detroit Lions has generally been positive, but the former Michigan star is aware things can turn toxic pretty quickly online.
(This article was originally published on 08.05.2022)
Hutchinson, 1/1 to finish with over 8.5 regular season sacks in Season Player Specials, fell into the Lions' lap when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected another pass-rushing college prospect Travon Walker - at No.1 overall.
Local call
But any disappointment the 21-year-old felt at not hearing his name called first soon evaporated when the Lions jumped at the chance to make him a cornerstone piece of their rebuilding project.
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The former Wolverine later joked about moving into his parents' basement, which is located a short drive away from the Lions' practice facility, now he's leaving campus.
Hutchinson knows that the spotlight will be on him to a greater extent than any other rookie because of his status as a local celebrity.
Online worries
An example of what he will have to deal with emerged on draft night when his family members began to trend on Twitter and says it is something he will have to be wary of as he aims for the top.
"I think social media can be a very toxic thing," Hutchinson told SB Nation last week.
"It's something that I had to realise this past year. My senior year, being, 'The Guy' on a football team.
"You slip up one time...No matter how good you are, you're going to get exposed.
"I had to realise that I could only have myself in this process. Only my beliefs about my own ability are the things that will drive me to success - not what other people think about me."
