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The University of Utah Athletics
John Penisini Drafted In Sixth Round By Detroit Lions
4/25/2020 2:35 PM | Football
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Utah defensive tackle John Penisini was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round with the 197th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft today.
Penisini is the eighth defensive lineman drafted by the NFL during Kyle Whittingham's tenure as head coach and is the third Ute defensive line squad member drafted today, joining Leki Fotu (4th round, Cardinals) and Bradlee Anae (6th round, Cowboys).
He is the 14th Ute in school history to be taken by the Lions and the first since Luther Elliss was taken in the first round by Detroit in 1995.
Penisini was an immediate contributor for the Utes after transferring from Snow College, earning back-to-back second-team All-Pac-12 selections to finish his career in Salt Lake City. He played in 40 career games as a Ute, starting 22 on the defensive line.
The West Jordan, Utah, native received positive feedback after his strong performances at the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine on the heels of a productive senior season in 2019. He saw action in all 14 games, starting 13, finishing second on the defensive line with 38 tackles (7.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks).
His two forced fumbles in 2019 tied for the team lead and ranked eighth in the Pac-12, notching one of them in Utah's win over Washington. He earned Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against the Huskies, also recording a career-high seven tackles and a sack.
Utah 2020 NFL Draft Tracker
Jaylon Johnson: Second Round, 50th Overall Pick, Chicago Bears
Julian Blackmon: Third Round, 85th Overall Pick, Indianapolis Colts
Zack Moss: Third Round, 86th Overall Pick, Buffalo Bills
Terrell Burgess: Third Round, 104th Overall Pick, Los Angeles Rams
Leki Fotu: Fourth Round, 114th Overall Pick, Arizona Cardinals
Bradlee Anae: Fifth Round, 179th Overall Pick, Dallas Cowboys
John Penisini: Sixth Round, 197th Overall Pick, Detroit Lions
Penisini is the eighth defensive lineman drafted by the NFL during Kyle Whittingham's tenure as head coach and is the third Ute defensive line squad member drafted today, joining Leki Fotu (4th round, Cardinals) and Bradlee Anae (6th round, Cowboys).
He is the 14th Ute in school history to be taken by the Lions and the first since Luther Elliss was taken in the first round by Detroit in 1995.
Penisini was an immediate contributor for the Utes after transferring from Snow College, earning back-to-back second-team All-Pac-12 selections to finish his career in Salt Lake City. He played in 40 career games as a Ute, starting 22 on the defensive line.
The West Jordan, Utah, native received positive feedback after his strong performances at the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine on the heels of a productive senior season in 2019. He saw action in all 14 games, starting 13, finishing second on the defensive line with 38 tackles (7.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks).
His two forced fumbles in 2019 tied for the team lead and ranked eighth in the Pac-12, notching one of them in Utah's win over Washington. He earned Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against the Huskies, also recording a career-high seven tackles and a sack.
Utah 2020 NFL Draft Tracker
Jaylon Johnson: Second Round, 50th Overall Pick, Chicago Bears
Julian Blackmon: Third Round, 85th Overall Pick, Indianapolis Colts
Zack Moss: Third Round, 86th Overall Pick, Buffalo Bills
Terrell Burgess: Third Round, 104th Overall Pick, Los Angeles Rams
Leki Fotu: Fourth Round, 114th Overall Pick, Arizona Cardinals
Bradlee Anae: Fifth Round, 179th Overall Pick, Dallas Cowboys
John Penisini: Sixth Round, 197th Overall Pick, Detroit Lions
Players Mentioned
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