Monday's National Championship Game between the Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies will pit two exciting quarterback prospects against one another. J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. both enter Monday's title-deciding showdown with different goals to achieve before entering the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy and Penix Jr. will be looking to address any remaining concerns NFL scouts have.
Penix Jr. and McCarthy were once viewed as being in contention to be the third quarterback drafted after Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. They've since fallen considerably behind LSU's Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. Nothing is set in stone in January, however. Just ask Vince Young (or countless others) how a legendary National Championship performance can change the trajectory of one's pre-draft stock.
Penix Jr. was outstanding in Washington's Sugar Bowl victory over Texas, throwing for 430 yards and two touchdowns. With back-to-back 4,500-yard seasons under his belt, Penix Jr. is in a unique situation. He can't necessarily address the main concerns scouts will identify throughout the pre-draft process via on-field play.
No matter what happens Monday, Penix Jr. will still be an older quarterback prospect with a lengthy injury history. But another big-time performance would ensure those narratives take a backseat. Penix Jr. is the deep-ball thrower in college football, and generating explosive passing plays is more important than age, especially when the issue at hand does not impact his immediate potential.
What Penix Jr. did against the Longhorns that arguably helped his pre-draft stock the most was showcasing the ability to maneuver the pocket while making off-platform throws. Several knee injuries have made Penix Jr. a less mobile quarterback and more of a traditional pocket passer. More of this against Texas would have NFL general managers viewing Penix Jr.'s pro-game potential in a more favorable light.
Outstanding pocket movement by Michael Penix Jr. to avoid the pressure. Finds Rome Odunze for a chain mover. pic.twitter.com/REN72eNsGa
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) January 2, 2024
McCarthy is facing different narratives. Unlike the Huskies, the Wolverines haven't advanced to the National Championship based on their passing-game merit. Michigan averages a dominant 159.5 rushing yards per contest, an output that's significantly more impressive than the complementary passing game McCarthy has overseen, one that averages a more modest 218.9 air yards per game.
Does McCarthy earn the dreaded game manager label as a signal-caller who takes advantage of the talent around him, or does he possess true franchise quarterback qualities? McCarthy has attempted 30-plus passes on just three occasions this season, one of which occurred against a weak East Carolina opponent in the opener. For context, Penix Jr. has attempted fewer than 30 passes just twice this campaign.
Michigan's winning strategy has been to ground and pound opponents to death while relying on a dominant defense that's allowing a nation-best 9.5 points per game. Can Jim Harbaugh continue keeping the ball out of McCarthy's hands against a high-flying Washington squad that's averaging a top-ranked 350 passing yards per contest? If things go Washington's way, McCarthy will have to be pass-happier than usual. The results could have a drastic impact on the quarterback’s final pre-draft report, whether positive or negative.
The 2024 National Championship Game will pit an immovable force versus an unstoppable object, two fantastic squads with contrasting styles. Penix Jr. and McCarthy are two intriguing quarterback prospects who possess one final on-field opportunity to put desirable traits on tape. Both quarterbacks have plenty to gain while attempting to position themselves as surefire first-round picks.
