Elijhaa Penny

Elijhaa Penny (born August 17, 1993) is a former American football fullback. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals after going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at Idaho and Cerritos College. He has also played for the New York Giants.

Elijhaa Penny
refer to caption
Penny with the Arizona Cardinals in 2017
No. 35, 39
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1993-08-17) August 17, 1993
Los Angeles, California
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Norwalk (Norwalk, California)
College:Idaho (2014–2015)
Undrafted:2016
Career history
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Rushing attempts:83
Rushing yards:302
Rushing touchdowns:3
Receptions:25
Receiving yards:147
Receiving touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Penny attended and played high school football at Norwalk High School in Norwalk, California.[1] He ran for 1,338 yards on 199 carries and scored a school single-season record 20 touchdowns as a sophomore.

College career

Penny initially began his college career at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, appearing in eight games and totaling 102 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.[2]

Penny played in 23 games (14 starts) in two seasons at Idaho after transferring from Cerritos College. He totaled 1,748 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on 385 carries with the Vandals while adding 39 receptions for 346 yards and three touchdowns and returning 15 kickoffs for 278 yards.[3] He started all 12 games as a senior, leading the team with 1,159 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 246 attempts and catching 27 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.[4] In Penny's first season at Idaho in 2014, played 11 games (two starts) and led the team with 589 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 139 carries. The 12 rushing touchdowns were the most by a Vandals player since DeMaundray Woolridge had 18 in 2009. In addition, he had 12 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.[5] He majored in general studies at Idaho.

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+7⁄8 in
(1.85 m)		 244 lb
(111 kg)		 30+1⁄4 in
(0.77 m)		 9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		4.81 s1.72 s2.75 s4.55 s7.20 s28.5 in
(0.72 m)		9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)		21 reps
All values from Pro Day[6]

Arizona Cardinals

Penny was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2016.[7] He was waived on September 3, 2016, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[8][9] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 3, 2017, after spending his entire rookie season on the practice squad.[10] In Week 4, against the San Francisco 49ers, Penny had his first career carry, a one-yard rush, in the 18–15 victory.[11] On December 3, against the Los Angeles Rams, he had his first professional touchdown in the 32–16 loss.[12] Overall, he finished the 2017 season with 31 carries for 124 yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with four receptions for 38 yards.[13]

On September 1, 2018, Penny was waived by the Cardinals and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[14][15]

New York Giants
Penny in a game against the Washington Redskins

2018

On September 19, 2018, Penny was signed by the New York Giants off the Cardinals' practice squad.[16] In the 2018 season, Penny finished with eight receptions for 50 receiving yards to go along with seven carries for 25 rushing yards in 14 games and three starts. In addition, he contributed on special teams.[17]

2019

On March 12, 2019, Penny re-signed with the Giants.[18] In the 2019 season, Penny finished with 15 carries for 39 rushing yards to go along with a special teams role in 16 games and one start.[19]

2020

On March 12, 2020, Penny signed a two-year contract extension with the Giants.[20] On January 2, 2021, Penny was placed on injured reserve.[21] In the 2020 season, he appeared in 14 games in an offense and special teams role.[22]

2021

On October 17, 2021, Penny recorded his first rushing touchdown for the New York Giants against the Los Angeles Rams in a 38–11 loss.[23] In Week 14, against the Los Angeles Chargers, he had a receiving touchdown.[24] In the 2021 season, he appeared in all 17 games and started three.[25]

On November 28, 2022, Penny announced his retirement from the NFL.[26]

Coaching career

On March 26, 2023, Penny accepted the head coaching position at John Glenn High School in Norwalk, California.[27]

NFL career statistics
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
2017AZ 16031124424389.5180
2018NYG 1437253.608506.3160
2019NYG 16115392.60294.590
2020NYG 1406152.5022010110
2021NYG 17324994.119303.3161
Total696812923.63201266.5181

Personal life

Elijhaa Penny is the older brother of NFL running back Rashaad Penny.[28]

References
  1. Kopff, Loren (November 14, 2014). "Norwalk's Penny Brothers Reunite, Meet On Gridiron in San Diego". Cerritos Community News. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  2. "Elijhaa Penny". Cerritos College Athletics. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  3. "Elijhaa Penny College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  4. "Elijhaa Penny 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  5. "Elijhaa Penny 2014 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  6. "2016 NFL Draft Scout Elijhaa Penny College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  7. Urban, Darren (May 9, 2016). "Cardinals Sign Two Tryout Players". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  8. Urban, Darren (September 3, 2016). "Final Cuts Take Cardinals to 53". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  9. Urban, Darren (September 4, 2016). "Cardinals Building Practice Squad". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  10. Urban, Darren (January 3, 2017). "Cardinals Sign Elijhaa Penny To "Future" Deal". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  11. "San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals - October 1st, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  12. "Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals - December 3rd, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  13. "Elijhaa Penny 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  14. Urban, Darren (September 1, 2018). "Cardinals Make Cuts To Reach 53-Man Roster". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  15. Urban, Darren (September 2, 2018). "Cardinals Undergo Roster Changes, Build Practice Squad". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  16. Salomone, Dan (September 19, 2018). "Giants sign RB Elijhaa Penny; Halapio to IR". Giants.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  17. "Elijhaa Penny 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  18. Eisen, Michael (March 12, 2019). "New York Giants re-sign FB Eli Penny". Giants.com.
  19. "Elijhaa Penny 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  20. Williams, Charean (March 11, 2020). "Report: Eli Penny agrees to two-year deal with Giants". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  21. Eisen, Michael (January 2, 2021). "LB Kyler Fackrell & DB Madre Harper activated, FB Eli Penny to IR among roster moves". Giants.com. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  22. "Elijhaa Penny 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  23. "Giants Elijhaa Penny: Scores a short TD". CBSSports.com. October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  24. "New York Giants at Los Angeles Chargers - December 12th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  25. "Elijhaa Penny 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  26. Benton, Dan (November 28, 2022). "Ex-Giant Elijhaa Penny announces retirement from NFL". Giants Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  27. Benton, Dan (March 26, 2023). "Ex-Giant Eli Penny named head coach at Glenn High School". Giants Wire. USA Today. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  28. Root, Jess (March 12, 2018). "Cards RB Penny inspires younger brother through draft process". Cards Wire. USA Today. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
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