Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning preparing for NFL Draft

CEDAR FALLS — In a little over four months, Northern Iowa offensive tackle Trevor Penning is poised to make program history.

The Clear Lake native is widely projected to be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, which would surpass former UNI All-American center Brad Meester, who was selected in the second round at 60th overall in 2000.

Penning’s 6-foot 7, 321-pound frame, coupled with top-shelf game film and a nasty edge, has NFL scouts and general managers routinely calling head coach Mark Farley and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton.

“Every time I talk to these GMs and everybody — and when I say everybody, I mean everybody — he’s an old school lineman,” Clanton said. “He’s going to wear the same beat up shoes everyday. That’s why all these teams are absolutely on fire for Trevor. The thing with him that makes him different is what’s in (his brain), the way he ticks.”

Walter Football and Pro Football Focus rank Penning as the fifth and eighth-best offensive tackle, respectively, in the upcoming draft. Meanwhile, CBS Sports ranks him eighth-best among all offensive linemen.

Friday, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards published a mock draft that had the redshirt junior going No. 22 overall to Miami.

“It’d be insane to be able to be the top guy (drafted) from (UNI),” Penning said. “Whoever wants to pick me, that’s alright with me.”

Clanton says it’s hard to find a comparison for Penning, whether it be his physical or mental attributes, but mentioned current Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson when it comes to the “nastiness” he plays with.

“He’s one of the nastiest linemen I’ve ever seen in my life. I’d put him up against any NFL offensive lineman on the nasty scale,” Clanton said. “I think, just let him play. And he’s the nicest guy ever off the field and the whole team loves him. With Trevor, he plays the game like Quenton Nelson, that type of love for the game and physicality.”

Having arrived at UNI in 2017 around 280 pounds, Penning says extra time in the weightroom and doing more than what was asked in summer conditioning helped pave the way toward a future in the NFL.

“I always had (the NFL) kind of in the back of my mind that was a goal of mine, but my goals coming into college I just wanted to be an All-American, All-Conference guy and get a shot to play in the league,” Penning said.

Among the many things working in his favor is former teammate Spencer Brown succeeding with the Buffalo Bills this year in his rookie season.

The 6-foot 8, 311-pound former Panther quickly captured the Bills’ starting spot at right tackle and has already become a favorite among fans in Buffalo.

“I talked to (Spencer) a couple days ago,” Penning said. “It was a good talk, we just kind of texted back and forth. He was asking me how I was doing with all the agent talk (and) the training.”

Despite his stellar career at UNI, NFL scouts and front office folks will be watching closely when Penning participates in the Reese’s Senior Bowl the first week of February. And Just like Brown, his draft stock will be more volatile than most other prospects’ at the showcase event, due to playing at the FCS level.

“I think a lot of it comes down to technique,” Penning said of his needed development. “I’m going to be working with all these offensive line coaches down here (in Frisco). I think I can definitely shed off a couple pounds and move a little better.”