Player: DT John Penisini, Utah.
Pick: Round 6, 197 overall, from Colts.
Combine results: 23 reps in the bench press, 25.5 vertical jump
Stats/bio: A three-year player at Utah after two years at Snow College in Utah. 40 games, 22 starts at Utah. 15 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Primarily a run defender who uses big hands, long arms to control his area on the interior.
View photos of defensive tackle John Penisini.
Utah Utes defensive tackle John Penisini (52) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Boulder, Colo. Utah won 30-7. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
West defensive tackle John Penisini, of Utah, (52) during the second half of the East West Shrine football game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah defensive lineman John Penisini runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
West defensive tackle John Penisini, of Utah, (52) during the second half of the East West Shrine football game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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Interior D-line offseason roster
Returning: Da’Shawn Hand, John Atkins, Olive Sagapolu, Kevin Strong.
Added: Danny Shelton, Nick Williams.
Analyst's take: Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Backup nose tackle with girth and anchor to clog the drain as a run stopper."
Tim Twentyman's take: Penisini is stout and strong in the middle at 318 pounds. He lined up mostly in the three-technique for the Utes, and I really love that he has a rugby background. He's a limited pass rusher, but Detroit will look for him to be a run stuffer and two-gap interior defender upfront. He's got strong hands and will improve his technique with NFL coaching.
Mike O'Hara's take: The Lions are looking to strengthen the run defense, and that was Penisini's strength.
