Unlike fellow Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi’s NFL career didn’t begin on draft night.

Sheehy-Guiseppi starred as a kick returner for Phoenix College, but did not get a chance to play receiver and after failing to receive a scholarship for his 2016 season, he decided to go pro, trying out for the CFL and Arena League with little success. But upon hearing about an NFL workout in Miami, the Arizona-based Sheehy-Guiseppi, who had not scored an invite to the event, decided to take a chance and adhere to the advice of an associate, who told him to look out for the Browns’ VP of player personnel, Alonzo Highsmith, according to Cleveland.com.

Once Sheehy-Guiseppi could put a name to a face, thanks in part to a Google search, he not only readied for the tryout but prepped for any questions that would likely greet him at the door.

“Who are you?” “I’m Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi, I’m here for the tryout.” “Do you know Alonzo?” “Yeah, I know Alonzo.”

Sheehy-Guiseppi would ultimately get to know Highsmith once inside, where he introduced himself.

“I just knew I had to make it look like we were friends,” he said. “Alonzo was real nice to me.”

The receiver could improvise off the field, but the real test came during his workout, when Sheehy-Guiseppi’s speed was on full display, running a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. He received a formal invitation from Highsmith to try out in Ohio. Despite limited funds and less-than-ideal sleeping conditions — Sheehy-Guiseppi slept outside and inside a 24-hour gym — his athletic ability impressed the Browns brass.

“Then we got a chance to see him for ourselves, and you could see all of the explosive movement stuff that Alonzo was talking about,” Cleveland GM John Dorsey said. “Then when you watch him field kicks and punts, you are going, ‘OK, he can do this kind of stuff.'”

Dorsey gave Sheehy-Guiseppi another opportunity to shine, signing him to the Browns’ roster in April. It’s up to Sheehy-Guiseppi, however, to prove that he’s worthy of a slot on the 53-man team.

“Yeah, it would be a great story if it happens, but he has to come and show that he deserves to be here,” Dorsey said.

Sheehy-Guiseppi isn’t taking these moments with the Browns for granted.

“No matter what opportunity I’m given, I want to become the greatest,” he said. “If it’s practice squad, I want to become the greatest practice squad player.”