Penei Sewell
American football player (born 2000)
American football player
Penei Sewell ( pen-NAY ;[1] born October 9, 2000) is an American football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon , where he won the Outland and Morris trophies in 2019.
Sewell opted out of his junior season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being selected seventh overall by the Lions in the 2021 NFL draft . A native of American Samoa , he and his family moved to Utah in 2012. He is the older brother of NFL player Noah Sewell .
Early life
Sewell was born on October 9, 2000, in Malaeimi , a village in American Samoa near the capital of Pago Pago .[2] As a child, he began playing American football alongside his three brothers after his father Gabriel became a coach of the sport.[3] Seeing the potential for his children to make it to the National Football League (NFL), Gabriel moved his family to St. George, Utah in 2012.[3] [4] [5] There, Sewell attended and played football at Desert Hills High School .[3] As a senior in 2018, he played in the US Army All-American and Polynesian Bowls before committing to the University of Oregon to play college football for the Oregon Ducks .[6] [7] [8]
College career
Sewell became an immediate starter during his freshman year for the Ducks in 2018, starting seven games but missing six due to a high ankle sprain .[9] [10] He returned in 2019 and won the Morris Trophy and Outland Trophy .[11] [12] In addition, he and former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were selected as co-recipients of the 2019 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award.[13] Sewell opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and declared for the 2021 NFL draft .[14]
Professional career
Regarded as one of the best overall prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft, Sewell was selected seventh overall by the Detroit Lions .[17] He tested positive for COVID-19 in May 2021 and had to sit out of minicamp . He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $24.1 million, the same month.[18] As a rookie, he appeared and started in 16 games, only being inactive for the regular season finale.[19] He was named to the 2021 Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.[20]
In Week 14 of the 2022 season, Sewell had a nine-yard reception late in the fourth quarter to give the Lions a crucial first down in the 34–23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings .[21] In the 2022 season, he started all 17 games and was named a Pro Bowl alternate.[22] [23] In 2023, Sewell was selected to his second Pro Bowl and first First-team All-Pro , and played in the NFC Championship with the Lions, where they lost 34–31.
On April 24, 2024, Sewell signed a four-year, $112 million contract extension with the Lions, keeping him under contract through the 2029 season.[24]
Personal life
Sewell has three brothers: Gabriel, Nephi , and Noah .[25] [26] Gabriel is a linebacker for the Houston Roughnecks in the United Football League , Nephi is a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints , and Noah is a linebacker for the Chicago Bears .[27] [28] The brothers are nephews of former NFL players Isaac Sopoaga and Richard Brown .[29]
References
^ "2022 Detroit Lions Media Guide" (PDF) . NFL.com . National Football League. Retrieved October 3, 2022 .
^ Vondersmith, Jason (December 31, 2019). "Sewell's star shines brightly" . Portland Tribune . Pamplin Media Group. Retrieved April 3, 2021 .
^ a b c Hummer, Chris (April 29, 2021). "Oregon's star tackle Penei Sewell was raised to do this" . 247Sports.com . Retrieved March 8, 2021 .
^ Monson, Gordon (July 15, 2016). "Monson: Desert Hills' Penei Sewell a man-child chased by Utah, BYU, USU and many, many others (with video)" . The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ Falk, Aaron (July 21, 2017). "Desert Hills star Penei Sewell has a big decision to make about his next football family" . The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ Smith, Cam (November 13, 2017). "Four-star Utah OT Penei Sewell gets emotional when receiving U.S. Army All-American jersey while out injured" . USA TODAY High School Sports . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ "2018 Game Highlights" . polynesianbowl.com . Retrieved March 8, 2021 .
^ Nemec, Andrew (February 8, 2018). "Oregon Ducks land Penei Sewell, the nation's No. 2 OG" . OregonLive . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ Alger, Tyson (October 11, 2018). "Just a freshman, Penei Sewell already is a big man on campus..." . The Athletic . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ Mims, Steve (December 20, 2018). "Penei Sewell works to resume his spot at left tackle in Redbox Bowl for Oregon Ducks football" . Duck Sports . Retrieved February 26, 2023 . [permanent dead link ]
^ Allen, Trevor (December 7, 2019). "Bradlee Anae, Penei Sewell Receive Morris Trophy" . KSL Sports . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ Crepea, James (December 13, 2019). "Oregon Ducks OL Penei Sewell wins Outland Trophy" . OregonLive . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ Huffman, Brandon (December 17, 2019). "Sewell, Tagovailoa Share Polynesian CFB Player of the Year Award" . 247Sports . Retrieved June 12, 2020 .
^ Goodbread, Chase (September 7, 2020). "Oregon's Penei Sewell opts out of college season, intends to enter 2021 NFL Draft" . NFL.com . Retrieved September 7, 2020 .
^ "Penei Sewell, Oregon, OT, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football" . draftscout.com . Retrieved September 7, 2021 .
^ "Penei Sewell 2021 NFL Draft Profile" . insider.espn.com . Retrieved April 16, 2023 .
^ Rogers, Justin (April 29, 2021). " 'A cornerstone player': Lions fortify O-line, select Oregon's Penei Sewell with No. 7 pick" . The Detroit News . Retrieved April 30, 2021 .
^ Patra, Kevin (May 19, 2021). "Lions, Penei Sewell agree to terms on four-year, $24.1 million rookie contract" . NFL.com . Retrieved May 20, 2021 .
^ "Penei Sewell 2021 Game Log" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ "2021 NFL All-Rookie Team" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ "Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions - December 11th, 2022" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ Meinke, Kyle (December 22, 2022). "Detroit Lions surprised by Pro Bowl snub for Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker" . mlive.com . Retrieved December 25, 2022 .
^ "Penei Sewell 2022 Game Log" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
^ Patra, Kevin (April 24, 2024). "Lions agree to terms with OT Penei Sewell on four-year, $112 million contract extension" . NFL.com .
^ Tidwell, Sarah (February 28, 2023). "Is Noah Sewell related to Penei Sewell? Former Oregon stars share more than just an alma mater" . Sporting News . Retrieved July 26, 2023 .
^ "Oregon's Sewell, Utah's Barton carry on family legacies" . USA TODAY . Associated Press. August 30, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2023 .
^ Nemec, Andrew (November 23, 2019). "Noah Sewell, 5-star linebacker, commits to Oregon Ducks" . OregonLive . The Oregonian . Retrieved June 12, 2020 .
^ Ireland, Kyle (April 30, 2022). "Utah LB Nephi Sewell Signs Undrafted Free Agent Deal With New Orleans Saints" . KSL Sports . Retrieved May 5, 2022 .
^ Davenport, Richard (July 3, 2017). "Hogs hoping for return visit from offensive lineman Penei Sewell" . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved February 26, 2023 .
External links
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