2021 NFL Draft: Penei Sewell just scratching the surface of his potential
By Seth Steere
Penei Sewell will be a top 2021 NFL Draft prospect despite being only 19
After Justin Herbert landed in the top-ten this past Spring, the Ducks look like they have another top prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. Left tackle Penei Sewell has already stacked up his trophy case, and does not look ready to slow down.
Just four years ago — the 2016-17 season — it appeared as though the Oregon Ducks had hit rock bottom; the only time the Ducks finished lower than their in-state rival Oregon State since branching to 12 teams. Just after one of their worst seasons in the 21st century, Oregon looked to new horizons, firing then-head coach, Willie Taggart, to hire Mario Cristobal, who is still in place now.
From the moment Cristobal took over the Ducks, the team began showing improvement and started to turn the corner. Each year they improved their record; from 4-8 in 2016 to 7-6, 9-4, and finally, this last season, they went 12-2 and a Rose Bowl championship. It didn’t take long for Cristobal to bring Oregon back to the heights Chip Kelly had them at 10 years prior.
What led to such an early turnaround was Cristobal’s recruiting ability. In his first year as head coach for the Ducks, he brought in the 13th best-recruiting class in the nation. Several key players on the Ducks roster last season were in that group — Jevon Holland, Verone McKinley III, and last but certainly not least, Penei Sewell.
Sewell was Cristobal’s highest-rated prospect in his first class as a coach. Interesting enough, Sewell was also the very first prospect that Cristobal contacted when he was given the Oregon job.
That call — literally — ended up paying off tremendously; Sewell is in a much-anticipated battle with Trevor Lawrence of Clemson for the number one overall prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft Class, and looks to be the runaway OT1 at this point in the process.