Everyone knows the road to the NFL is tough. Millions of kids dream of it, and every year, only a shade over 250 of them hear their name called on draft. For former Utah defensive tackle John Penisini, that dream was realized this year, but his journey to the NFL nearly ended before he even landed at the University of Utah.
His talent on the field was undeniable. His senior year, he amassed 92 tackles and 6.0 sacks in just 10 games at West Jordan High School. 15 minutes away, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was keeping tabs.