A north Iowa native is the first-ever UNI player selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Former Panthers offensive lineman Trevor Penning was selected 19th overall Thursday night by the New Orleans Saints. The 6-foot 7-inch, 332-pounder from Clear Lake played high school football for Newman Catholic in Mason City. After lettering in football, basketball and track for the Newman Knights, Penning had a college stellar career at UNI, becoming the only offensive lineman ever named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, presented to the national offensive player of the year.
Another Iowa native, Tyler Linderbaum from Solon, who played for the Hawkeyes, was also a first-round pick, going 25th to the Baltimore Ravens.
