Former Florida Tech Linebacker J.T. Hassell Signs Contract with Cleveland Browns

Former Panther linebacker inks undrafted free agent deal with Browns

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Former Florida Tech linebacker J.T. Hassell signed a three-year undrafted free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns on Saturday evening following the 2019 NFL Draft.

Hassell joins Panther alumni Manny Abad (Titans) and Gabe Hughes (Dolphins) as the only players in program history to sign a UDFA contract with an NFL franchise.

The Titusville, Florida native is coming off the best season by any defensive player in program history and one of the best individual performances by anyone in GSC history.

Voted the 2018 GSC Defensive Player of the Year, Hassell led the league in tackles (124), tackles per game (10.3) and solo tackles (76), all school records.

He also ranked first in the league in forced fumbles (3), as well as sixth in tackles for loss (9.5) and seventh in sacks (4.5). Additionally, Hassell set program single-game records for total tackles (20.0) and sacks (4.0).

Following his senior season, Hassell garnered First Team All-GSC honors and was a finalist for the 2018 Cliff Harris Award, given to the Small College Defensive Player of the Year.

He received All-America honors from five different organizations, including being named a First Team All-American by the AFCA, the D2CCA, and the Don Hansen Football Committee.

He also earned Second Team All-American honors from the Associated Press and D2Football.com. Moreover, just this week he was voted Florida Tech’s 2018-19 Co-Male Athlete of the Year.

Hassell transferred to Florida Tech from South Dakota State in 2016 and played his final two years of eligibility for the Panthers in 2017 and 2018.

Over those two seasons at Tech, Hassell played in all 23 of the Panthers’ games and amassed 200 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 11 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and one interception.

Hassell heads up to Cleveland in a few days and will begin rookie mini-camp on May 3.

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