Elijhaa Penny

Signed as a rookie free agent by the Arizona Cardinals on May 9, 2016…Waived on Sept. 3, 2016…Signed to Arizona's practice squad on Sept. 4, 2016…Signed by Arizona to a reserve/futures contract on Jan. 3, 2017…Waived by Arizona on Sept. 1, 2018…Signed to Arizona's practice squad on Sept. 2, 2018…Signed by the Giants off Arizona's practice squad on Sept. 19, 2018.

TRANSACTIONS:

• Signed as a rookie free agent by the Arizona Cardinals on May 9, 2016…Waived on Sept. 3, 2016…Signed to Arizona's practice squad on Sept. 4, 2016…Signed by Arizona to a reserve/futures contract on Jan. 3, 2017…Waived by Arizona on Sept. 1, 2018…Signed to Arizona's practice squad on Sept. 2, 2018…Signed by the Giants off Arizona's practice squad on Sept. 19, 2018.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Has played in 30 games with 3 starts for the Arizona Cardinals and Giants...Career totals include 38 rushing attempts for 149 yards (3.9-yard avg.), with a long run of 14 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus 12 receptions for 88 yards (7.3-yard avg.) and 13 special teams tackles.
• In his first season with the Giants in 2018, Penny played in 14 games with 3 starts…Played on offense and special teams in his Giants debut at Houston (9/23)…Started for the first time vs. New Orleans (9/30)…Gained 2 yards on his initial Giants rushing attempt at Atlanta (10/22)…Caught 2 passes for 12 yards at San Francisco (11/12)…Started and had 2 receptions for 4 yards vs. Tampa Bay (11/18)…Started and had a season-high 5 carries for 21 yards at Washington (12/9).
• Penny played in all 16 games for the Cardinals in 2017, when he had 31 rushing attempts for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns, 4 receptions for 38 yards, and 11 special teams tackles.
• Led the team with a career-high 3 special teams tackles in his NFL debut at Detroit (9/10)…Gained 1 yard on his first career carry vs. San Francisco (10/1)…Gained 6 yards on his first reception and had a special teams tackle at Philadelphia (10/8)…Scored his first NFL touchdown on a 1-yard run vs. the Rams (12/3)…Established career highs with 10 carries and 45 rushing yards, including a career-long 14-yard gain at Washington (12/17)…Scored his 2nd touchdown on a 4-yard run at Seattle (12/31).

COLLEGE:

• Played in 23 games with 14 starts in 2 seasons at Idaho after transferring from Cerritos College…Finished career with 385 carries for 1,748 yards and 22 touchdowns, and 39 catches for 346 yards and 3 scores…Also returned 15 kickoffs for 278 yards…As a senior, started all 12 games and led the team with 1,159 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 246 attempts, plus 27 receptions for 239 yards and 2 scores…In 2014, played in 11 games with 2 starts in his first season at Idaho….Led the team with 589 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 139 carries, plus 12 catches for 107 yards and a score…Prior to transferring to Idaho, ran for 1,338 yards on 199 carries and scored a school record 20 touchdowns as a sophomore at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif….Named first-team All-America and the Northern Conference Offensive Player of the Year…Began his career at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif., where he played in 8 games and had 22 carries for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns.

OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY:

• Attended the Giants annual Jingle Jam holiday party for 600 New Jersey foster children, who each received winter coats, clothes, athletic equipment and enjoyed a night of dancing and fun activities…Packed 1,000+ care packages with front office staff, coaches and teammates that were donated to My Sisters' Place, a safe haven for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking…Encouraged children attending the free youth dental event known as Team Smile event at MetLife Stadium.

PERSONAL:

• Organizational studies major…Graduated from Norwalk (Calif.) High School, where he played running back, defensive end and linebacker…As a senior, earned all-state honors and was named all-area each of his last 2 seasons…Two-time winner of the Suburban League MVP and was the Wave Newspaper East Region Player of the Year after gaining 2,005 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns as a senior…Added 29 tackles and 1.5 sacks on defense…As a junior, ran for 1,569 yards and 22 touchdowns while totaling 62 tackles, 8 sacks and 4 interceptions…Brother, Rashaad, was a first-team All-American running back at San Diego State, where he led the NCAA with 2,248 rushing yards in 2017; Rashaad was drafted by Seattle in the first round (27th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.