"I’m still living in a dream" Trevor Penning’s Mom & former coach react to draft pick

(ABC 6 News) – Clear Lake, Iowa’s Trevor Penning began as a Newman Catholic Knight, and now he is a New Orleans Saint, his dreams of being in the NFL are now reality as he was selected 19th overall in the first round on Thursday.

Teresa Penning, Trevor’s Mom said, "I think I’m still living in a dream."

Penning’s former coach, Newman Catholic’s Rich McCardle said, "The transformation he’s made and the growth that he’s made ever since leaving Newman is tremendous."

If there are concerns about him adjusting to the big-time atmosphere of the NFL McCardle said it’s a very short list, "He’s physically ready to play the game, he’s a big bodied man, he’s 6’7", 325 pounds."

His character is as big as his size. Penning still keeps in touch with Coach McCardle and invited his high school friends and linemen from UNI to The Other Place Bar in his native Clear Lake. Alex Skidmore said, "You know he could chosen anywhere he wanted to choose. For us to be able to host the event was a really good thing."

His mom saying, "He’s excited. I mean he’s probably like me still like, ‘pinch me is this a dream?’ but, yeah, he’s pretty happy though."

Coach McCardle also said Penning actually transferred to Newman Catholic to play with the road baseball team, and it took a little convincing for Penning to play football.