5 things to know about new Lions OT Penei Sewell

The pick is in, now it’s time to get to know a little about the newest Detroit Lion.

With the seventh overall pick, the Lions selected offensive tackle Penei Sewell to bolster the trenches. Let’s learn some more about the newest addition to the team with five things to know about Sewell.

1. He was born in American Samoa, which consists of five main islands and two coral atolls. For those geographically challenged like myself, it’s located in the South Pacific Ocean and the southernmost territory of the U.S. It’s one of two territories south of the Equator with a total land area just a smidge bigger than Washington, D.C.

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2. Football is in the Sewell family’s blood. His father is a coach, his brother Gabriel is a linebacker for the Nevada Wolfpack, his other brother Nephi is a defensive back for the Utah Utes, and his third brother Noah is a linebacker for Oregon. His uncles are also former NFL players Richard Brown and Isaac Sopoaga.

3. Penei won the Outland Trophy and Morris Trophy in 2019. The Outland Trophy is presented to the top interior lineman in the country each year during The College Football Awards at the College Football Hall of Fame. The Oregon left tackle also won the Morris Trophy, which is given to the best offensive and defensive linemen in the Pac-12, as selected by other players.

4. This awesome 2018 moment where he led this traditional haka dance at the second annual Polynesian Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. One hundred high school seniors, most of Polynesian ancestry, attend a Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner.

5. He grew up a Lions fan. “I was a big fan of Calvin Johnson. Loved seeing him go up, get the ball. Also the running back they had at the time was Jahvid Best. I would just use them in Madden because ... I loved to use the underdogs.” Welp, he already gets the vibe here.