John

Penisini

A two-year starter at defensive tackle, Penisini (6’1/318) earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors both seasons. Penisini is a “low man wins” player by default and was more effective plugging gaps against the run than rushing the passer. He lacks the burst off the line of scrimmage (25.5-inch vertical) and the pass-rushing moves to be effective on passing downs in the NFL (2.0 sacks as a senior), but Penisini has enough strength and “want to” to compete for rotational snaps in rushing situations. He will be 23 years old as a rookie.

“Penisini can twitch and club off the snap for occasional early wins or punch, extend and two-gap when needed,” Zierlein wrote. “He has massive, violent hands and quality upper-body strength but will find the going much tougher against bigger, stronger competition.” Penisini (6'1/318) recorded 23 reps in the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he’s considered to have above-average arm length in addition to the hand size. He’ll likely be a late-Day 3 or UDFA player come April, with the potential to provide additional depth at the nose tackle position.

Penisini (6'2/320) recorded 35 tackles, seven solo, two forced fumbles and two sacks for a stout Utah defense this season. He was named second-team All-Pac 12 in 2018 and is expected to vie for similar honors after another productive year. Pro Football Focus assessed his 2018 performance with a 85.1 overall grade with 31 quarterback pressures and 24 total stops. Penisini is considered to be a sixth round-UDFA prospect for NFL Draft purposes and could use a big showing at the Shrine Bowl practices to boost his draft stock.

Penisini (6'2/320) was one of the reasons why teams found it difficult to get much done against the Utah defense in 2018, with that unit ranking second in the Pac-12 in both total and scoring defense, first against the run and third against the pass. The senior defensive tackle, who was credited with 31 quarterback pressures and 24 total stops, boasted a run defense grade of 86.1 and a run stop percentage of 8.7%. A second team all-conference selection in 2018, Penisini should be in the running for first team honors -- and maybe some All-America attention as well -- in 2019.