Player: Trevor Penning

School: Northern Iowa

Height and Weight: 6’7”, 325

Combine Results:

• 40: 4.89
• Bench: DNP
• Broad Jump: 9’3”
• Vertical Jump: 28”
• 3 Cone: 7.25
• 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.62

Strengths: First level run blocking, physicality in the run game

Weaknesses: Second level run blocking, tendency to catch/minimal arm extension, tendency to be flat footed, stance

Projected Draft Day: Late Day 1/Day 2

Player Comparison: Kolton Miller

Player Summary: Penning is a player being super hyped up by analysts, and I quite frankly don’t understand where this hype is coming from. For a guy who is so highly regarded, he didn’t even pop out at the FCS level when I watched his tape.

Penning’s strong suit seemed to be run blocking, but not in its entirety. I thought that at the first level against defensive lineman, Penning really showed out well and showcased nice physicality. When it came to trying to get up to the second level, it seemed like he struggled a bit. He looked hesitant at points and was unsure of who to hit, and at a certain point you just need to make contact with someone. Another issue is that in both the run and pass game, Penning has a tendency to “catch” defenders rather than be the aggressor and make first contact.

Building off that point, when it comes to blocking, I feel like I didn’t see a whole lot of arm extension while blocking, run or pass, but particularly in pass blocking. It gives rushers a solid chance to beat him as they are in close on his body and pretty much have their choice of move to use against him. Penning is going to need to learn to use arm extension to keep rushers away from him and create separation. While pass blocking another issue I noticed is that he has a tendency to be flat footed at times. As a lineman you need to keep your feet moving and driving forward while blocking. If you stay flat footed, you are not giving yourself much of a fight.

The huge red flag I noticed in watching Penning’s film is that his stance can predict what type of play it’s going to be. When he is in a two point stance you can almost guarantee it’s going to be a pass play or RPO of sorts. If he is in a three point stance expect run, play action, potentially RPO. I get that there are scenarios where you may be more comfortable in a two point versus a three point stance, but you can not be this predictable. You need to mix it up and become comfortable doing both run and pass blocking out of both types of stances. It may have been an Iowa State system flaw, but if not hopefully that’s a habit his coach in the league can break.