Leominster's Jon Penning is growing up on and off the gridiron
By Katina Caraganis
FITCHBURG SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE
kcaraganis@sentinelandenterprise.com
FITCHBURG -- Growing up, Jon Penning of Leominster heard stories about his father and uncle playing football in high school and knew he wanted to follow in their footsteps. Having never stepped onto a football field as a player before attending high school, he knew it was something he wanted to do.
Penning has taken his dream and made it a reality on the football field at Stonehill College where he plays defensive tackle.
"I didn't play Pop Warner. I was always a heavier kid and they said they would put me in with the 14- and 15- year-olds when I was 10," he says. "My dad and uncle both played for Leominster High School and they were pretty much the ones who wanted me to play. My dad was so excited for me to start high school so I could play football."
Throughout high school, getting recruited to play college ball was never something he thought about. He was just doing what he loved, said Penning.
When his junior year was coming to a close, he remembers not knowing what he wanted to do after graduation.
Not many in his family pursued higher education, and he said he
wasn't aware of his options until a guidance counselor opened his
eyes to the options he had.
"It started toward the end of my junior year when I started to get letters and informational items from colleges. I didn't really have an idea what I wanted to do," said Penning. "I started going to football camps and getting my name out there."
He says it wasn't until his senior year that he formulated his plan after talking to his guidance counselor, whose son had played for Leominster High School and went to college for football. "She guided me in the process and introduced me to the Northeast 10 conference. I didn't know anything about it or what my options were," he recalled.
Initially, his plan was to attend UMass or the University of New Hampshire as a walk-on or go to a prep school for one more year of experience.
Instead, he continued to play high school football while also concentrating on keeping his grades up and maintain his eligibility.
He narrowed his college choice to Southern Connecticut University and Stonehill.
His decision, he remembers, came down to visits to both campuses. Each school offered competitive financial-aid packages but for Penning, it was important to feel comfortable on campus.
Southern Connecticut, he said, was too far from home, but he remembers his trip to Stonehill like it was yesterday.
"The coach at Stonehill was interested in me. Once I got to the campus it was beautiful. It's close to home and is a smaller school that is academic oriented. I was sold," he said.
Stonehill's head football Coach Robert Talley was not part of Penning's recruiting process but has nothing but high praise for his player.
"He's one of those kids that is underspoken. He doesn't say a heck of a lot but he works hard," said Talley. "He's definitely one of those kids who lets his actions speak for him rather than speaking a lot."
Adds the coach, "I like how hard he works and he gets everyone's
attention. Playing defensive tackle, he's a big guy that is very
strong and explosive and controls the scrimmage. When you have a
300-pound guy leaning on you, it's tough to move the ball."
Although Talley has only been at the helm of the Division 2 program since 2007, he's seen Penning improve both on and off the field, something he admires in his players.
"The biggest thing with him is he started to play with more confidence. He's extremely hard on himself and if he screwed up, he would yell at himself," explained Talley. "I think now he realizes he has to let it go and go on to the next play. His overall attitude has changed and he's matured. That's one way why he was voted captain."
Talley remembers when he first started noticing the positive change in Penning.
"In my first year, he would walk around and always be in a bad mood. Last spring his personality came out and he was really enjoying himself more. He's also doing really well in the classroom," the coach said. "It's just a growing process and being part of a team and the demands being put on him. We appreciate his efforts."
Penning agrees with his coach."I've really matured and I'm being disciplined. I know that my priorities are to be responsible," said Penning. "The big difference between high school and college football is that college ball is year-round and always keeps you on a schedule. That's been great for me."
Penning says Stonehill has opened doors for him, academically and in football. Penning said that Stonehill's program has improved greatly since Talley started, and is impressed with its growth.
"We have a team, about 99 kids, which is mainly due to the coach who has boosted the program in a number of ways," he said. "When I first got here, there was only 50 or 60 kids on the team. It's great for the program because it adds a lot of competition and depth."
Penning said the team is young, with only 20 seniors, but emphasizes their potential.
"We have a lot of skilled guys, and they're good kids. That's really something the coach really harps on. He wants to recruit kids that are good players but also good in the classroom," said Penning.
Penning is studying psychology and criminology and hopes to work at a state prison in the psychiatric ward.
"College football has really helped me mature and become a responsible young man," said Penning. "I feel what I learned on the field, like discipline and being able to take criticism will always stay with me."
