Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi didn't know where to look as he stepped in front of his stall in the corner of the Browns locker room.
One camera was lifted toward Sheehy-Guiseppi's smiling face. Then another camera went up. And then another.
Sheehy-Guiseppi didn't realize he'd receive all the media hype after the Browns' 30-10 preseason-opening win over the Washington Redskins on Thursday at FirstEnergy Stadium. The rookie wide receiver made one of the top plays of the game — and, perhaps, the biggest play of his inspirational career — when he returned a punt for 86 yards in the fourth quarter for the Browns' final score.
"I don't know where to start," Sheehy-Guiseppi said as his eyes darted between each camera, recorder and microphone.
His touchdown, however, was the perfect start for Sheehy-Guiseppi's improbable path to the NFL. Four months ago, he arrived for his tryout with the Browns with two bags of possessions, only a few hundred dollars and a dream of wearing an NFL uniform.
Check out photos of the Cleveland Browns vs the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium by team photographer Matt Starkey
Running Back Dontrell Hilliard (25) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates a touchdown during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to pass during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates a touchdown during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Wide receiver Rashard Higgins (81) celebrates a touchdown during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates a touchdown during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) on the sideline during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Wide receiver Jaelen Strong (10) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Quarterback Drew Stanton (5) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
The Browns huddle during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) makes a tackle during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Head Coach Freddie Kitchens during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) celebrates during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
FirstEnergy Stadium during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Defensive end Anthony Zettel (97) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) celebrates during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Safety Sheldrick Redwine (33) makes a tackle during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) cheers during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) celebrates his pick-six during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) celebrates his pick-six with defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) and defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Safety Damarious Randall (23) laughs on the sideline during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) celebrates his pick-six during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) returns an interception for a touchdown during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Quarterback Garrett Gilbert (3) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Guard Austin Corbett (63) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Kicker Greg Joseph (17) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Defensive end Chad Thomas (92) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) celebrates his interception with linebacker Mack Wilson (51) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) celebrates his interception during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Safety Damarious Randall (23) celebrates cornerback Greedy Williams' (26) interception during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) makes a tackle during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) on the sideline during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Head Coach Freddie Kitchens on the sideline during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Center JC Tretter (64) on the sideline during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Wide receiver Jaelen Strong (10) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Offensive tackle Drew Forbes (79) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Quarterback Garrett Gilbert (3) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (52) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (52) and cornerback Juston Burris (31) celebrate during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Cornerback Juston Burris (31) and defensive end Wyatt Ray (61) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) intercepts the ball during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) intercepts the ball during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) intercepts the ball during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Quarterback David Blough (9) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Wide Receiver Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (15) during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Wide Receiver Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (15) celebrates his touchdown during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Wide Receiver Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (15) celebrates his touchdown during the Redskins vs. Browns preseason game.
Sheehy-Guiseppi accomplished that dream Thursday, and then he ran with it. He fielded the punt, weaved through three defenders and tilted his head back as he sprinted to the end zone and jumped in jubilation right in front of fans in the Dawg Pound.
Seconds after the score, Sheehy-Guiseppi couldn't breathe. Teammates mobbed the 5-foot, 11-inch Sheehy-Guiseppi in excitement after the touchdown and created an early frontrunner for best scene of the preseason.
"I just ran as fast as I could in the hole," Sheehy-Guiseppi said with the same smile he never lost throughout the interview. "I felt all the love. I was over there gasping for air, but I felt all the love. It was just a blessing to see them all coming down excited."
Rashard Higgins and the other wide receivers were excited to watch Sheehy-Guiseppi make the return before the punt was even made. Sheehy-Guiseppi told them during training camp he could run a blistering-fast 4.30 40-yard dash time, but they had never seen Sheehy-Guiseppi race at those speeds during special teams drills, where tackling isn't allowed.
The receivers called the touchdown before he fielded the kick, just for fun. Then, it actually happened.
"The talk of the day should be Damon," Higgins said. "For him to come out and have fun in his first game is special. That is what the game is all about. I really can't describe the feeling because I am so happy for that guy."
Did Sheehy-Guiseppi look as fast as he mentioned?
"It looked like he ran a 4.3 to me," Higgins said with a smile.
Sheehy-Guiseppi, who hadn't faced live punt-return action since he played at Phoenix College in the NJCAA in 2016, is buried in the depth chart behind top wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Higgins and more. He had to wait before he could finally step into the spotlight during the fourth quarter of a preseason game.
After his tremendous return, though, Sheehy-Guiseppi quickly became a fan favorite.
"I'm just blessed to be healthy and be in the position that I am," he said. "I just try to stay in the moment and just think about what's to come next. I'm super proud to be able to take advantage of moments like that."
Sheehy-Guiseppi did more than take advantage of the moment. He seized it and ran as fast as he could. That's what he's been doing since the Browns offered him a tryout in April.
Now, Sheehy-Guiseppi will never forget it.
