| Date of birth: | September 9, 1961 |
| Place of birth: | Houma, LA |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Status: | Not Active |
| Position(s): | Center |
| College: | Nicholls State |
| NFL Draft: | 1984 / Round: Supplemental |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1985-1986 1986-1990 |
Jacksonville Bulls(USFL) Houston Oilers (NFL) |
| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Jay Leslie Pennison (born September 9, 1961 in Houma, Louisiana) is a former professional American football center who played in the United States Football League (USFL) and the National Football League (NFL).
Pennison is a graduate of South Terrebonne High School class of 1979. The next year he walked on to Nicholls State University as a tight end but was moved to center, the position he played his sophomore and junior seasons in high school. Pennison was a redshirt freshman due to his smaller size.
Upon graduating college, he signed as a undrafted free agent for the Washington Redskins but was one of the last preseason cuts. Pennison went to play center for the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. When the USFL folded in 1986, Pennison got drafted by the Houston Oilers in the NFL supplemental draft. Pennison went on to start all 16 games that season. Pennison started 5 years on arguably one of the best offensive lines in the 1980s, with Bruce Matthews Hall of Fame Class of 2007, Dean Steinkuhler, Mike Munchak Hall of Fame Class of 2001, Kent Hill 1986-1987, Bruce Davis 1987-1989. The Oilers went to the playoffs 4 out of the 5 years that Pennison was with the team.