NFL CAREER – A first round selection (19th overall) of the Saints in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Northern Iowa, Penning has appeared in 40 contests with 23 starts at left tackle and right tackle. After being set back by injuries early in his career, Penning made a seamless transition to the right tackle position, opening all 17 contests. In 2025, he will compete at left guard.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Activated from Injured Reserve, 11/26/22; Placed on Injured Reserve, 9/1/22; Agreed to terms on a four-year contract, 5/13/22; Selected by Saints in first round (19th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
2024 – Started all 17 games at right tackle…At Dallas, Sept. 15, helped lead the effort by the line to produce 190 rushing yards and four TDs…At Carolina, Nov. 3, blocked in an effort where RB Alvin Kamara tied a career-high with 155 rushing yards…Vs Cleveland, Nov. 17, helped the Saints rushing attack to gain a season-high 214 yards. 2023 – Appeared in 17 games, including starting the first five contests at left tackle and taking the majority of snaps at the position at Houston, Oct. 15…Contributed on special teams throughout the season while also serving as an extra lineman in several contests. 2022 – Appeared in six games as a rookie after recovering from toe injury suffered in the preseason and contributed on special teams and as a sixth lineman in first five appearances, before starting season finale at left tackle vs. Carolina, 1/8/23…Made NFL regular season debut on special teams and as a sixth lineman at San Francisco, Nov. 27.
COLLEGE – Penning saw action in 37 games over his career at Northern Iowa with 33 starts…He started all 12 games at left tackle in the fall of 2021 and was the only offensive lineman in the country to be named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is annually awarded to the FCS national offensive player of the year. Penning was also named to nine All-America teams, including the Associated Press All-America team, and was named Phil Steele's offensive lineman of the year…Appeared in and started six games in a COVID-19 shortened 2021 spring season postponed from the fall…Made five starts at left tackle and one at right tackle…Named honorable mention All-Missouri Valley and to Bruce Feldman's College Football Freaks list…In 2019, played and started in all 15 games, seeing action primarily at left tackle with right guard mixed in, as the Panthers advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2015…In 2018, played in four games as redshirt freshman…Redshirted as a freshman in 2017…Graduated with a degree in movement and exercise science and a minor in coaching.
PERSONAL – Attended Newman Catholic (Mason City, Iowa) HS, where he was named a team captain…Earned first-team All-District and All-Area…Lettered in basketball and track and field…Teammate of younger brother, Jared, on the UNI offensive line from 2019-21…To celebrate "504 Day" on May 4, 2023, Penning, two teammates and other team employees joined with Second Harvest Food Bank to give back through a food packing event…In December, joined teammates Taliese Fuaga and Cameron Jordan for a Super STEM Bowl at the Willow Middle School, encouraging students to make connections between STEM and sports medicine.
