Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Size:
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 216 pounds
Arm Length: 33 5/8"
Hand Size: 10 1/2"
Accomplishments:
Maxwell Award Winner (2023) • Heisman Finalist (2023) • All-Pac-12 Second Team (2023) • Comeback Player of the Year (2022) • All-Pac-12 Second Team (2022) • Manning Award Finalist (2022) • Davey O'Brien Award Semifinalist (2022)
“Michael Penix Jr. is a flamethrowing pitcher who runs an offense like a top-tier point guard.”
Strengths:
Tight-window thrower
Prototypical pocket passer
IQ and processing
Physical and mental toughness
Blitz beater
Concerns:
Four season-ending injuries
Consistency handling pressure
Accuracy out of structure
Film Analysis:
Michael Penix Jr. thrives within the structure inside of the pocket. When kept clean, he can attack all three levels of the defense. He generates great zip/velocity to drive throws into tight windows. If given a sliver of space, he can thread the needle and fit passes to his receivers. There is no place within the defense that is safe from his arm talent and passing prowess. Penix Jr. is one of the best deep ball passers in the country. He delivers passes with great touch, timing, and accuracy down the field. He has a quirky three-quarter throwing motion—his release is snappy and travels with a simple “flick of the wrist.”
Penix Jr. does a good job reading defenses pre and post-snap. He is quick in reading the coverage and going through his progressions. Penix Jr. processes information well to find his open receivers. When kept clean, he will carve up a defense from the pocket. He is a functional athlete to makes plays with his legs and moves within the pocket. His pocket maneuverability is an underrated part of his game.
Penix Jr. is a difficult quarterback to blitz. His football IQ and instincts allow him to see the field and burn the defense for not having enough bodies in coverage. Once he identifies it pre-snap, he knows where to go with the football and what plays to audible into.
Penix Jr. loves to work and win from the pocket. When pressured and forced to make plays on the move consistently, his accuracy and ball placement decline. His passing efficiency dips when trying to make off-platform throws. Penix Jr. looks uncomfortable when moved off his spot, specifically to this right. His medicals remain a question to an extent. During his time at Indiana, Penix Jr. suffered four season-ending injuries—two of which were torn ACLs. The NFL Scouting Combine medical tests will be pivotal.
NFL Projection: Penix Jr. is the best pure passing quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft class. He projects as a high-end starting quarterback in a vertical passing offense. Penix Jr.’s arm talent and football IQ are great and translate well to the league. A strong run game to open play-action deep shots is an ideal situation for Penix Jr. He can be a multi-contract starting quarterback with his arm talent, accuracy, and ball placement from the pocket. I believe Penix Jr. can provide an NFL offense the 2022 version of Geno Smith on a year-to-year basis.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: Oregon (2023), Oregon (2023), Washington St. (2023), Oregon St. (2023) Kent St. (2022), Texas (2022), Arizona (2022), UCLA (2022)
