After being drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, Boston College product and guard Christian Mahogany had his eye on wearing No. 73, which was also his number in high school and college. The number became available after guard Jonah Jackson left in free agency.
As it turns out, that number is significant to him because of former Dallas Cowboys guard and Hall of Famer, Larry Allen, who he says he "fell in love with" during his high school days. Mahogany's dad was also a Cowboys fan.
"It's really big for me," Mahogany said of getting No. 73, per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. "I wore 73 since I was in high school. I fell in love with Larry Allen and his tape. My dad was a Cowboys fan, so I started watching a lot of Larry Allen. He plays like how I want to play."
"It's hard to say I model my game after Larry Allen," Mahogany added. "He's a first-ballot Hall of Famer. "But I try to emulate it any way I can. Just how he plays, his mentality, who he is as a man and a football player."
Mahogany enters an offensive line room that is already stacked. The Lions have five starters set in stone in a group that is considered one of the best in the NFL, if not the best. Barring injury, the best Mahogany can hope for is a depth role, but first he's got to put himself in position to be the first man off the bench if needed.
"Getting back into your fundamentals and technique and what coach (Hank) Fraley wants to preach and coach (Ben) Johnson," he said. "All the things that they want to do here that's what you have to come in and be ready to do and that's my role. Right now, I'm just coming in and learning and being a sponge. I'm just soaking it all in as we speak."
Mahogany recently took part in rookie minicamp earlier this month. The next big step for the rookie will be at mandatory minicamp, which begins on June 4.
