2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Michael Penix Jr., QB Washington
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek, which features Michael Penix Jr. He is a quarterback from the University of Washington and hails from Tampa, Florida. Penix Jr. was a 3-star recruit from Tampa Bay Technical High School and was ranked as the 40th-best QB prospect in the 2018 class, according to 247 Sports.
Four consecutive season-ending injuries mar Penix’s early career at Indiana. It is a shame that he never got to show off his entire repertoire for a full season. In 2018, he tore his ACL, in 2019 dislocated his shoulder, in 2020 he retore the same ACL he tore in 2018. In 2021, he dislocated his throwing shoulder.
After the 2021 season, Penix left Indiana to join his coach Kalen DeBoer at Washington. Penix took off during the 2022 season and showed what college football fans had hoped for. He helped resurrect the Huskies to an 11-2 record, passing for 31 touchdowns and 4,641 yards to just 8 interceptions. He earned the Comeback Player of the Year award, second-team American honors, and a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien award.
In 2023, Penix returned to prove that his success in the previous season was not a one-time fluke. He amazed the college football universe by leading the Washington Huskies to the national championship game with his incredible arm strength. In his final year at Montlake, he improved as a passer. He finished second in the Heisman voting, the highest ever for a Husky, due to his impressive stats: 4,903 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions. With these accomplishments, Penix made it clear to the NFL that he was a serious quarterback prospect.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Passing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | AY/A | TD | Int | Rate |
| 2018 | Indiana | Big Ten | FR | QB | 3 | 21 | 34 | 61.8 | 219 | 6.4 | 7.0 | 1 | 0 | 125.6 |
| *2019 | Indiana | Big Ten | FR | QB | 7 | 110 | 160 | 68.8 | 1394 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 10 | 4 | 157.6 |
| *2020 | Indiana | Big Ten | SO | QB | 6 | 124 | 220 | 56.4 | 1645 | 7.5 | 7.9 | 14 | 4 | 136.5 |
| 2021 | Indiana | Big Ten | JR | QB | 5 | 87 | 162 | 53.7 | 939 | 5.8 | 4.3 | 4 | 7 | 101.9 |
| *2022 | Washington | Pac-12 | JR | 13 | 362 | 554 | 65.3 | 4641 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 31 | 8 | 151.3 | |
| *2023 | Washington | Pac-12 | SR | QB | 15 | 363 | 555 | 65.4 | 4903 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 36 | 11 | 157.1 |
| Career | Overall | 1067 | 1685 | 63.3 | 13741 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 96 | 34 | 146.6 | ||||
| Indiana | 342 | 576 | 59.4 | 4197 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 29 | 15 | 132.0 | |||||
| Washington | 725 | 1109 | 65.4 | 9544 | 8.6 | 9.0 | 67 | 19 | 154.2 | |||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- When Penix is in rhythm and timing, his throws are a thing of beauty.
- He possesses the necessary arm strength to qualify as a quarterback with starting potential in the NFL.
- Penix is best when throwing vertically downfield. It highlights the touch he puts on his passes.
- He is a tough-as-nails quarterback who has overcome countless injuries throughout his playing career.
- He is skilled at maneuvering in the pocket and excels at evading sacks.
- He has a talent for placing the ball in spots that allow wide receivers to make big plays.
- Four consecutive season-ending injuries mar Penix’s early career at Indiana. It is a shame that he never got to show off his entire repertoire for a full season. In 2018 he tore his ACL, in 2019 he dislocated his shoulder, in 2020 he retore the same ACL he tore in 2018. In 2021, he dislocated his throwing shoulder.
Weaknesses
- Penix’s production outside the pocket drops significantly, which is evident on tape and could be problematic for him in the future.
- When put under pressure, Penix’s mechanics start to fall apart, which results in issues with his footwork and delivery.
- When he leaves the pocket, his throwing mechanics become inconsistent, resulting in inaccurate passes.
- Concerns exist about the potential ceiling due to a late breakout in age.
- Penix sometimes misses open windows due to slow delivery. At the pro level, those windows will be even tighter.
- Despite his toughness being an invaluable asset, his extensive injury history raises concerns for any NFL team.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Round 1/2
Ideal Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings Pick 42
Penix’s situation is going to be extremely important in his development as a professional. Landing in Minnesota and sitting behind a veteran such as Kirk Cousins. (if Minnesota re-signs him) is the ideal landing spot for Penix. With the pass catchers and system run by Kevin O’Connell
Penix is a football player who embodies the old-school style of play. He is intelligent, precise with his throws, and can dismantle a defense if given enough time in the pocket. However, his success in the NFL will depend on his offensive line’s ability to protect him from opposing defenders.
This prospect has a unique skill set that could make him a valuable addition to any team. However, it only takes one team to recognize and select his potential in round 1 of the draft. As a signal caller, he shows promise at the NFL level but would benefit most from a supportive scheme and environment that allows him to thrive. There may be better approaches than throwing him into a challenging role immediately. A team would benefit from having him learn from a veteran player.
Post-Draft Analysis
Pick 1.08 to the Atlanta Falcons
Penix Jr.
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe video breakdown of Michael Penix Jr below.
