Truth be told, senior Fawaz Alhassan seemingly came from nowhere last year for West Aurora.
Several weeks into that season, the junior transfer from Thornridge joined the football team. He was a virtual unknown to the coaching staff.
One year later, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Alhassan is a fixture at defensive end for the Blackhawks,
“He’s kind of a classic West High kid,” defensive coordinator Pat Stremel said. “He gets here and he fits in right away — just works his butt off and becomes an important part of the team.”
Head coach Nate Eimer remembers he was close to closing the door on adding any more newcomers to the program last season, especially since players have to participate in 12 practices before they’re even allowed to participate in a game.
“He’s a great story,” Eimer said of Alhassan. “I don’t remember the exact time he came to us, but it was super late. Somebody on the staff is like, ‘You should probably see this kid.’
“I do and see he’s a bigger, put-together kid, but you don’t really know what you’ve got and we didn’t know where to play him.”
Alhassan’s parents, who came to the United States from the Bahamas years earlier, moved their family — including a younger brother and sister who attend Herget Middle School — in the summer to Aurora.
Fawaz played football during first his two years at Thornridge, even taking some limited varsity snaps at linebacker and defensive end late in his sophomore season as the Falcons finished 0-9.
He wasn’t sure about continuing in the sport until seeing the Blackhawks get off to a great start early in what would become an undefeated regular season.
“As soon as I joined the football team, I got to know people and started making friends,” Alhassan said. “Honestly, I just wanted a better experience playing football.”
He wasn’t eligible to play until Week 6. He played in a couple junior varsity games and then saw limited action as a varsity reserve the final two weeks of the regular season. He also played briefly in the team’s playoff opener.
His strong work ethic came to the forefront, and this season, Alhassan ranks fourth on the team with 31 tackles that include 22 solo stops and 1 1/2 sacks.
Alhassan took part in the team’s offseason program and started a summer job in maintenance with the Fox Valley Park District that continues this fall.
“I still work on weekends and try to work as much as I can, sometimes after practice, and get as much as 30 hours a week in,” he said.
The weight room is something he doesn’t skip as well.
“They really wanted me to get stronger and a little bit faster,” Alhassan said. “You play some pretty big guys, so they wanted me to be able to face them head on and win those one-on-one battles.
“My role is to fill in my gap if it’s a run, and if it’s a pass, try to apply as much pressure on the quarterback as I possibly can.”
West Aurora defensive line coach Mike Runge marveled at Alhassan’s schedule last spring.
“He took night classes, too,” Runge said. “Not makeup classes, but get-ahead electives.
“He’s such a cool kid. He’s reserved and humble. We don’t hear much from him, but he’s opened up this season after getting used to a new school.”
Two days into this year’s summer program, the coaches agreed, Alhassan would be the answer to one of many questions facing their new team.
“He hit the wight room and did everything right,” Stremel said. “He’s super committed and brings a great energy.”
Alhassan would like to take his game to the next level but has to wait and see at this point.
“I’ve developed football-wise and even in my personal life,” he said. “I feel like I’ve matured and come a long way. I feel like being here has helped that happen. I feel like I was supposed to come here because it’s a better situation, better teammates, better friends.”
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