Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. dazzled the football world this past season with his elite arm talent, but another facet of his game earned headlines on Thursday. Penix Jr. set the high watermark for all quarterbacks in attendance this week by being clocked at a blazing sprint speed of 19.2 miles per hour on a scramble during the third day of Senior Bowl practices. Even more impressive, his run was the second-fastest among all players on Thursday, via Zebra Sports.
Known primarily as a pocket passer, Thursday's reading is an intriguing result for the 23-year-old. While he's not likely to change the game that placed him second in the 2023 Heisman Trophy voting and has him en route to being a high pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the fact that Penix Jr. can reach those speeds is notable.
In 49 college games between Indiana and Washington, Penix Jr. only had 134 career rushing attempts in college for a grand total of 265 yards—keep in mind that sacks count against a quarterback's rushing yards in college. One has to wonder if his previous knee injuries took the rushing club out of his bag in recent years, and results like Thursday may make him more open to picking up yards with his legs with necessary when he gets to the NFL.
Penix Jr. is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which usually means he'll be a Week 1 starter in the NFL. His dazzling deep ball is his calling card, but don't sleep on his ability to navigate inside and outside of the pocket with quickness. Wherever he goes, Penix Jr.'s journey from Indiana to Washington to the NFL is remarkable. The Senior Bowl is just the next step in his evolution as a player.
