Penny brothers return to Norwalk for kids football clinic

NORWALK -- Elijhaa and Rashaad Penny hosted a free football camp at Excelsior High School last Saturday, drawing hundreds of local youth to work on various football drills with the former Norwalk Lancers turned pros.

The 2 Cents Foundation, founded by the Penny family, invited children from the ages of 5 to 11 to meet and practice with the football stars and their closest friends and family. For the second half of the day, the Pennys worked with the 12 to 17-year-olds.

“Norwalk is home,” said Rashaad in a brief interview. He said they organized the event to give back to the community that his family is so deeply embedded in.

The two brothers are both expected to play in the NFL next season. Elijhaa is currently on the Arizona Cardinals while his younger brother is projected as a top 5 running back in this year’s draft.

I believe Rashaad could be the steal of the entire draft as he is projected to be picked up in the second or third round. He is a dynamic kick returner and explosive running back. It's his innate vision and decisiveness that has made him one of the best backs and return specialists in the nation.

Even though Rashaad only carried the workload for one year, his senior season, his impressive stats paired with his combine performance makes him worthy of a first round selection. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and added an impressive broad jump of 120 inches.

He is just shy of 6 feet tall and every ounce of 220 pounds. His frame and fresh legs should equate to a long productive career. But he is still being overlooked by many, but they are going to be in for a surprise once he gets a chance to prove himself.

He kind of reminds me of last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Alvin Kamara who surprised everyone as he scorched the league with the Saints who picked him up in the third round. He will just need to improve his hands if he wants to and start right away.

By William Odis Martin