Rashaad Penny
{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Rashaad Penny
| image = Penny Press.png
| alt =
| caption = Penny in 2018
| current_team =
| number = 20, 23
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|2|2|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Norwalk, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 220
| high_school = Norwalk
| college = San Diego State (2014–2017)
| draftyear = 2018
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 27
| pastteams =
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2023}})
- Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
| highlights =
- Consensus All-American (2017)
- MW Offensive Player of the Year (2017)
- 3× MW Special Teams Player of the Year (2015–2017)
- 3× First-team All-MWC (2015–2017){{efn|Selected as running back and return specialist in 2017.}}
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 1,951
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 5.6
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 13
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 28
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 227
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 1
| pfr = PennRa00
}}
Rashaad Armein Penny (born February 2, 1996) is an American former professional football running back who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Seattle Seahawks. He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs and was selected by the Seahawks in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. After five seasons with the Seahawks, Penny spent one season with the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring in 2024.
Early life
Penny attended and played high school football at Norwalk High School.{{Cite web |last=Sondheimer |first=Eric |date=September 17, 2017 |title=Penny family's loyalty to Norwalk inspires as the youngest son leads the Lancers to victory |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-high-schools-sondheimer-20170917-story.html |access-date=November 2, 2018 |website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web |last=Kopff |first=Loren |date=May 2, 2018 |title=Norwalk's Rashaad Penny living the dream, drafted by Seattle Seahawks |url=https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2018/05/02/norwalks-rashaad-penny-living-the-dream-drafted-by-seattle-seahawks/ |access-date=November 2, 2018 |website=Los Cerritos Community News |language=en-US}} He had a very productive senior season as he rushed for 2,504 yards and 41 rushing touchdowns on 216 carries and caught 21 passes for 665 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. He committed to play college football at SDSU over offers from Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Nevada, San Jose State, and Utah State.{{Cite web |title=Rashaad Penny College Bio |url=https://goaztecs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=623 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=SDSU Athletics |language=en-US}}
College career
Penny played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs from 2014 to 2017.{{Cite web |title=Rashaad Penny College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rashaad-penny-1.html |access-date=November 2, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} During the 2016 season, Penny rushed for 1,018 yards on 136 carries for an average of 7.5 yards per carry.{{Cite web |title=Rashaad Penny College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rashaad-penny-1.html |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |language=en}}
As a senior in 2017, Penny rushed for 216 yards and 12.0 yards per carry against Arizona State and 175 yards and 5.5 yards per carry against Stanford.{{Cite web |title=Rashaad Penny |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3139925/rashaad-penny |access-date=September 26, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}}{{Cite web |last=Easterling |first=Luke |date=September 17, 2017 |title=The Rashaad Penny show trucks through Stanford in upset win |url=http://draftwire.usatoday.com/2017/09/17/the-rashaad-penny-show-trucks-through-stanford-in-upset-win/ |publisher=Draft Wire/USA Today}} On September 25, 2017, he received the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week award for the fourth consecutive week.{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2017 |title=Rashaad Penny Earns Fourth Straight MWC Offensive Award |url=http://www.foxsports.com/san-diego/story/rashaad-penny-earns-fourth-straight-mwc-offensive-award-092517 |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=FOX Sports}}{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=Kirk |date=September 25, 2017 |title=Aztecs' Rashaad Penny is Mountain West Player of Week for record fourth straight week |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/sd-sp-azfoot-rashaad-penny-mw-player-of-week-0926-story.html |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=The San Diego Union-Tribune}} During the 2017 regular season, he ranked first among all Division I FBS players with 2,027 rushing yards.{{Cite web |title=FBS (I-A) Player Rushing Statistics – 2017 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/stats/player?season=2017&group=80 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 2014 | San Diego State
| 10 || 2 || 22 || 11.0 || 21 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2015 | San Diego State
| 14 || 61 || 368 || 6.0 || 55 || 4 || 8 || 120 || 15.0 || 33 || 1 | ||||||||||
| 2016 | San Diego State
| 14 || 135 || 1,005 || 7.4 || 73 || 11 || 15 || 224 || 14.9 || 41 || 3 | ||||||||||
| 2017 | San Diego State
| 13 || 289 || 2,248 || 7.8 || 95 || 23 || 19 || 135 || 7.1 || 33 || 2 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rashaad-penny-1.html Career] | 51 | 487 | 3,643 | 7.5 | 95 | 38 | 42 | 479 | 11.4 | 41 | 6 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11
| weight = 220
| dash = 4.46
| ten split = 1.58
| twenty split = 2.63
| shuttle =
| cone drill =
| vertical = 32½
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 0
| bench = 13
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 31¼
| hand span = 9¼
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2018 |title=NFL Draft Prospect Profile – Rashaad Penny |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/rashaad-penny?id=32462018-0002-5598-9884-ab8b2759ec0c |access-date=March 1, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=San Diego State RB Rashaad Penny : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile |url=http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=131349&draftyear=2018&genpos=RB |access-date=May 12, 2018 |website=NFLDraftScout.com}}
}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
Penny was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Wesseling |first=Chris |date=April 26, 2018 |title=Seahawks bolster RB ranks by drafting Rashaad Penny |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/seahawks-bolster-rb-ranks-by-drafting-rashaad-penny-0ap3000000929143 |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=NFL.com}} On May 16, 2018, Penny signed a four-year deal worth $10.7 million featuring a $5.9 million signing bonus.{{Cite web |last=Bergman |first=Jeremy |date=May 16, 2018 |title=Seahawks sign 2018 first-rounder Rashaad Penny |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/seahawks-sign-no-27-overall-selection-rashaad-penny-0ap3000000933139 |access-date=May 16, 2018 |website=NFL.com}} He made his NFL debut in the Seahawks' 27–24 loss to the Denver Broncos in the season opener. He had seven carries for eight yards to go along with four receptions for 35 yards.{{Cite web |last=Condotta |first=Bob |date=September 9, 2018 |title=Stock watch: How did the Seahawks grade out in their 27–24 opening-week defeat to the Broncos? |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/how-did-the-seahawks-grade-out-in-their-27-24-opening-week-defeat-to-the-broncos/ |access-date=October 1, 2018 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} In a Week 10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Penny had a breakout game with 12 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Rashaad Penny On 108 Yards Against The Rams |url=https://www.seahawks.com/audio/the-huddle-rashaad-penny-on-108-yards-against-the-rams |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=Seahawks.com |language=en-US}} Overall, he finished his rookie season with 419 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Rashaad Penny 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PennRa00.htm |access-date=February 6, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} The Seahawks made the playoffs as the #5-seed and faced off against the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round. In the 24–22 loss, Penny had four carries for 29 rushing yards.{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys – January 5th, 2019 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201901050dal.htm |access-date=February 6, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In Week 2 of the 2019 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penny rushed 10 times for 62 yards and his first rushing touchdown of the season as the Seahawks won 28–26.{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2019 |title=Wilson, Seahawks edge Steelers 28–26 as Roethlisberger exits |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128110 |access-date=September 15, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} During Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Penny finished with 129 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Seahawks won 17–9.{{Cite web |date=November 24, 2019 |title=Penny runs for 129 yards, Seahawks beat Eagles 17–9 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128008 |access-date=November 24, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} In Week 13 against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football, Penny rushed 15 times for 74 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 33 yards and a touchdown in the 37–30 win.{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2019 |title=Seahawks take over 1st place in NFC West, beat Vikings 37–30 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128112 |access-date=December 2, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} In Week 14, Penny suffered a torn ACL and was ruled out the rest of the season.{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Nick |date=December 9, 2019 |title=Rashaad Penny suffers torn ACL, out for season |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/rashaad-penny-suffers-torn-acl-out-for-season-0ap3000001086302 |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=NFL.com}} Overall, in the 2019 season, Penny appeared in ten games and recorded 370 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with eight receptions for 83 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Rashaad Penny 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PennRa00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=January 11, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Penny was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list (PUP) at the start of training camp on August 3, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=August 3, 2020 |title=Seahawks TE Will Dissly Passes Physical; RB Rashaad Penny Opens Camp On PUP List |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-te-will-dissly-passes-physical-rb-rashaad-penny-opens-camp-on-pup-list |access-date=August 3, 2020 |website=Seahawks.com}} He was moved to the reserve/PUP list at the start of the regular season on September 5, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves To Establish Initial 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-to-establish-initial-53-man-roster |access-date=September 16, 2020 |website=Seahawks.com}} Penny was activated from the PUP list into the active roster on December 19, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=December 19, 2020 |title=Seahawks Activate RB Rashaad Penny & DE Damontre Moore |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-activate-rb-rashaad-penny-de-damontre-moore |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=Seahawks.com}} He appeared in three games in the 2020 season.{{Cite web |title=Rashaad Penny 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PennRa00/gamelog/2020/ |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
The Seahawks declined to exercise the fifth-year option on Penny's contract on May 3, 2021, making him a free agent after the 2021 season.{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=May 3, 2021 |title=Seahawks are not expected to pick up Rashaad Penny's 2022 option |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/05/03/seahawks-are-not-expected-to-pick-up-rashaad-pennys-2022-option/ |access-date=May 7, 2021 |website=NBCSports.com}} He was placed on injured reserve on October 2, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=October 2, 2021 |title=Seahawks Activate Colby Parkinson & Cedric Ogbuehi From IR, Place Rashaad Penny On IR |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-activate-colby-parkinson-cedric-ogbuehi-from-ir-place-rashaad-penny-on- |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=Seahawks.com}} He was activated on October 25, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=October 25, 2021 |title=Seahawks Activate RB Rashaad Penny From IR; Elevate QB Jake Luton From Practice Squad |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-activate-rb-rashaad-penny-from-ir-elevate-qb-jake-luton-from-practice-s |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=Seahawks.com}} In Week 14, Penny had a breakout game rushing 16 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns in a 33–13 win over the Houston Texans.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at Houston Texans - December 12th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202112120htx.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 16, Penny ran for 135 yards in the 25–24 loss to the Chicago Bears.{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks - December 26th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202112260sea.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 17, Penny ran for 170 yards on 25 carries along with two touchdowns in a 51–29 win against the Detroit Lions, continuing his breakout set of games.{{Cite web |title=Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks - January 2nd, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202201020sea.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} For his game against Detroit, he won NFC Offensive Player of the Week.{{Cite web |title=2021 NFL Week 17 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2021/week_17.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 18, Penny rushed for a career-best 190 yards on 23 carries along with a rushing touchdown during an upset win over the Arizona Cardinals.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals - January 9th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202201090crd.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Overall, Penny played in ten games rushing for 749 yards on 119 attempts, and six touchdowns, all career highs.{{Cite web |last=Condotta |first=Bob |last2=Jude |first2=Adam |date=January 9, 2022 |title=Rashaad Penny continues surge, hopes to be 'back home' with Seahawks |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-rb-rashaad-penny-continues-late-season-surge-hopes-to-be-back-home-with-seahawks-as-he-enters-free-agency/ |access-date=January 11, 2022 |website=The Seattle Times}} He led in the NFL in yards per rushing attempt among qualified players with 6.3.{{Cite web |title=2021 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2021/leaders.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
The Seahawks re-signed Penny on a one-year deal worth $5.7 million on March 20, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Bergman |first=Jeremy |date=March 20, 2022 |title=Rashaad Penny returns to Seahawks on one-year deal worth up to $6.5M |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/rashaad-penny-seahawks-one-year-deal-2022/ |access-date=March 20, 2022 |website=NFL.com}} In Week 4, against the Lions, Penny had 17 carries for 151 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 48–45 victory.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions - October 2nd, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202210020det.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 5, Penny suffered a season-ending broken fibula in the 32–39 loss against the New Orleans Saints. He was placed on injured reserve on October 14, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=October 14, 2022 |title=Seahawks Place RB Rashaad Penny On Injured Reserve |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-place-rb-rashaad-penny-on-injured-reserve |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=Seahawks.com}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
On March 15, 2023, Penny signed a one-year contract with the Eagles.{{Cite web |last=Spadaro |first=Dave |date=March 15, 2023 |title=Rashaad Penny adds a different dimension to the backfield |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/rashaad-penny-adds-a-different-dimension-to-the-backfield |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com}} He was originally seen as a replacement for running back Miles Sanders, who departed for the Carolina Panthers in free agency over the offseason. However, later in the offseason, the Eagles acquired D'Andre Swift from the Detroit Lions in a trade, and leading up to the 2023 season, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni would not announce a starting running back, instead planning for a "committee approach" to the position, where Penny, Swift, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott would share carries.{{Cite web |last=Erby |first=Glenn |date=2023-07-24 |title=Eagles planning RB-by-committee approach to replacing Miles Sanders |url=https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/philadelphia-eagles-news-nick-sirianni-running-back-competition-dandre-swift-rashaad-penny-kenneth-gainwell/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Eagles Wire |language=en-US}} Despite this, Penny would end up seeing the least playing time, only appearing in three games throughout the season with 11 carries and a total of 33 yards.
=Carolina Panthers=
On May 6, 2024, Penny signed with the Carolina Panthers.{{Cite web |title=Panthers agree to terms with Rashaad Penny |url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-agree-to-terms-with-rashaad-penny |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Panthers.com |language=en-US}} On July 30, Penny was placed on the reserve/retired list by the Panthers.{{cite web | last=Gantt | first=Darin | title=Panthers place running back Rashaad Penny on reserve/retired | website=Panthers.com | date=2024-07-30 | url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-place-running-back-rashaad-penny-on-reserve-retired | access-date=2024-08-03}}
Personal life
Penny has four siblings: Robert Jr., Elijhaa, Breonna, and Brionne.{{Cite web |last=Odegard |first=Kyle |date=March 1, 2018 |title=Penny brothers carry rich genes |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/penny-brothers-carry-rich-genes-20405191 |access-date=November 11, 2018 |website=Arizona Cardinals |language=en-US}} His parents are Desiree and Robert Penny.{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=Kirk |date=August 27, 2017 |title=Patience, perseverance pay off for Aztecs running back Rashaad Penny |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/sd-sp-azfoot-rashaad-penny-0827-story.html |access-date=November 11, 2018 |website=The San Diego Union Tribune |language=en-US}} Penny's older brother Elijhaa is a retired NFL fullback.{{Cite web |last=Root |first=Jess |date=March 12, 2018 |title=Cards RB Penny inspires younger brother through draft process |url=https://cardswire.usatoday.com/2018/03/11/cardinals-rb-elijhaa-penny-motivates-inspires-draft-prospect-brother-rashaad-penny/ |access-date=November 2, 2018 |website=Cards Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Benton |first=Dan |date=November 28, 2022 |title=Ex-Giant Elijhaa Penney announces retirement from NFL |url=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/28/ex-new-york-giants-eli-penny-announces-retirement-from-nfl/ |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=Giants Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-us}}
Notes and references
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
{{footballstats|yahoo=30997|espn=3139925|nfl=rashaad-penny}}
- {{twitter|pennyhendrixx}}
- [https://goaztecs.com/sports/football/roster/rashaad-penny/623 San Diego State Aztecs bio]
{{2017 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2018 NFL Draft}}
{{SeahawksFirstPick}}
{{Seahawks2018DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Penny, Rashaad}}
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American football running backs
Category:Carolina Panthers players
Category:Sportspeople from Norwalk, California
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Players of American football from Los Angeles County, California