Former Desert Hills Star Penei Sewell Makes NFL Top 100 For Second Straight Year
Aug 28, 2025, 11:43 AM | Updated: Aug 29, 2025, 10:38 am
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Penei Sewell #58 of the Detroit Lions looks on before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Former Desert Hills standout Penei Sewell cracked the NFL Top 100 list for the second straight season, this time entering the top 15 in the league.
The NFL Top 100 is an annual countdown of the 100 best players in the National Football League, voted on by the players. Sewell is the fifth player with ties to the state of Utah to make the 2025 list.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Lions OT Penei Sewell joins the list at No. 13! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/yEkx6X8Let
— NFL (@NFL) August 28, 2025
Sewell had a very quick rise in the list. He went from unranked in 2023 to No. 22 in 2024. Now, he is the highest-ranked offensive tackle in the NFL and knocking on the top 10.
In the last two seasons, Sewell has boasted a run-blocking grade of 95.7. That number isn’t just elite, it’s about as close to perfect as you can get. He leads all offensive linemen in that category.
The pass-blocking is great as well. Sewell took over 1000 snaps in 2024 and allowed just one sack.
The Lions had a top-10 offensive line unit in 2024. Losing veteran Frank Ragnow could result in some regression, but the right side of the line will stay elite with Sewell on the edge.
About Penei Sewell
Before his time in college and the NFL, Sewell was a star player for the Desert Hills Thunder in St. George, Utah. As a senior in high school, Sewell participated in the All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl.
247Sports rated Sewell as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Utah for the 2018 class. Following his high school career, Sewell chose to play football for the Oregon Ducks.
As a freshman in 2018, Sewell was an immediate starter for the Ducks. He played in seven contests during his first season in Eugene, Oregon. In 2019, Sewell played in 14 games and helped Oregon win the Pac-12 Championship. He also helped the Ducks win the Rose Bowl Game against Wisconsin.
Sewell was honored with the Outland Trophy for his outstanding play as a sophomore. The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the best interior lineman in college football.
RELATED: Detroit Lions Remember Exciting Moment Before Drafting Penei Sewell
Rather than play in 2020, Sewell opted out of playing as a junior amid the coronavirus pandemic. During the year off, Sewell prepared for the 2021 NFL Draft. The Lions selected Sewell with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Every @peneisewell58 catch of his career 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JfHBuArLiD
— NFL (@NFL) June 16, 2023
Since then, the former Desert Hills standout has become one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL.
About #LocalsInTheNFL
For over five years, KSL Sports has provided coverage on all NFL players with ties to the state of Utah.
Whether they attended Utah or BYU or grew up in the Beehive State, we keep you caught up with how the locals are performing on the highest stage.
From highlights to trades and other breaking news, check out our Locals In The NFL coverage here.
