Michael Penix Jr., QB Washington: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Penix was a three-star recruit from Tampa Bay Technical High School in Tampa, Fla. in the class of 2018

In 2022, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made it through his first college season without suffering a significant injury. He emerged as one of the nation’s top passers and could solidify himself as a second or third round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft with another healthy campaign.

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Michael Penix Jr., QB Washington: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Sixth-year redshirt senior quarterback from Tampa, Fla.

Background: Penix was a three-star recruit from Tampa Bay Technical High School in Tampa, Fla. in the class of 2018. He was the No. 548 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 586 for On3.com. Penix was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 78 grade out of 100. He began his high school career at Pasco High School in Dade City, Fla. before arriving at Tampa Bay Technical. Penix originally committed to Tennessee before flipping to Indiana. He transferred from Indiana to Washington for the 2022 season. As a high school senior, Penix completed 129 of 244 pass attempts for 2,165 yards, 30 touchdowns, and five interceptions while rushing for 449 yards and ten scores. He earned Hillsborough County Player of the Year honors. As a junior, Penix connected on 153 of 272 passes for 2,078 yards, 31 touchdowns, and one interception while rushing for 200 yards and six scores, which led to him making the Tampa Bay Times All-Hillsborough County team. MaxPreps also credits Penix with throwing for 1,131 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions as a sophomore at Pasco. Additionally, he played center fielder on the baseball team and participated in track and field. Penix jumped 22 feet in the long jump and ran a 22.8 200-meter dash. MaxPreps credits him with averaging 12.4 points, 13.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game as a sophomore on Pasco’s basketball team. Penix was born on May 8, 2000.

Injuries & Off-Field: Suffered a season-ending torn ACL in 2018, needed season-ending surgery in 2019 for a right sternoclavicular joint injury, suffered a season-ending torn ACL in 2020, suffered a season-ending AC joint separation in his throwing shoulder in 2021

Awards: 2020 Second Team All-Big Ten, 2022 Second Team All-Pac-12, 2022 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll, 2022 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year, served as a team captain in 2020, 2021, and 2022

Pros: Never fumbled more than twice in a season, leadership traits, footwork in the pocket is clean, alters release angle and speed to suit the situation, uses eye manipulation to hold or move defenders, accustomed to working through his progressions to the open pass catcher, throws with touch to all levels, throws with anticipation, throws arrive outside the numbers with good zip, velocity lets him challenge tight windows over the MOF, threw a 49-air-yard pass that turned into a touchdown vs. Oregon (2022), connected on a throw of 50 air yards vs. Michigan State (2022), flashes of dropping the ball in a bucket over his receiver’s shoulder, throws the back shoulder fade well, consistently hits open downfield throws, enough mobility to roll out and move the pocket, comfortable throwing on the run, keeps his eyes downfield when escaping the pocket, willing to run when left alone in space

Cons: Age, history of serious injuries, penalized five times in 2022, throwing motion is loopy with a whip-like release, plants his feet too early in the throwing motion at times, tilts his upper body when attempting to put more oomph on throws, release leads to inconsistent ball placement, adequate but not elite arm talent, velocity on throws outside the numbers to the opposite hash is inconsistent, ball placement is high on some short outside throws, ball placement is behind targets on short crossers, ball placement leaves YAC on the table, more touch on shallow slants and flat routes is needed, occasionally locks onto a receiver and forces the throw, unwillingness to come off of reads leading to challenging strong coverage, tunnel vision ignores crashing safeties and dropping second-level defenders, post-snap coverage recognition must improve, lots of misses and poor decisions vs. UCLA (2022), doesn’t have the mobility to gash defenses

Overview: Penix is one of the older, more experienced quarterbacks in the upcoming draft class, and it shows in his approach to the game. A captain for two programs, Penix is a veteran leader with a strong command of the pocket. His footwork in his dropback is clean, although he sometimes plants his feet too early when entering his throwing motion. Penix protects the football at a high level. He has never been sacked more than seven times or fumbled more than twice in a season. The sixth-year redshirt senior alters his release angle and speed to suit situations. He separates himself from other quarterback prospects with his use of eye manipulation to hold or move defenders. He is accustomed to working through all of his progressions to find the open pass catcher. Penix throws with anticipation, which opens the door for big downfield plays. He applies touch at all levels but needs to be more consistent with his touch on shallow slants and routes to the flat. Penix doesn’t have elite arm talent, but it’s perfectly adequate for a starter at the next level. His throws outside the numbers arrive with good zip, but his velocity on throws outside the numbers to the opposite hash is inconsistent. Penix’s velocity lets him challenge tight windows over the middle of the field. There were plays against Oregon and Michigan State in 2022 when Penix completed throws that traveled roughly 50 air yards, but his arm doesn’t access throws much further beyond that point. The Florida native shows flashes of dropping the ball in a bucket over his receiver’s shoulder. He’s comfortable throwing the back shoulder fade to beat tight coverage and consistently hits open downfield throws, avoiding the overthrows that plague some other members of the 2024 class. Penix has enough mobility to roll out and move the pocket, but he doesn’t threaten defenses with his speed. The veteran is comfortable throwing on the run and keeps his eyes downfield when escaping the pocket. He is willing to use his legs to pick up the first down when left in space but won’t break big plays. Penix’s throwing motion is loopy with a whip-like release. He tilts his upper body when attempting to put enough power behind deep throws or throws challenging tight windows, which messes with his accuracy and ball placement. Penix’s unconventional throwing motion and release lead to inconsistent ball placement. This usually shows up in high throws on short outside routes and throws that are behind targets on crossers. This ball placement leaves yards after the catch on the table. There are too many moments when Penix locks onto a receiver and forces the throw despite facing strong coverage. This tunnel vision ignores crashing safeties and dropping second-level defenders who have plays on the ball. These post-snap vision and recognition issues were on display against UCLA (2022). That game tape is not at the level of an NFL starter. Finally, Penix’s injury history is a giant red flag for NFL teams. He enters 2023 with just one healthy season in five years of play that include two torn ACLs.

Overall, Penix’s combination of experience, leadership, and football IQ makes him a high-floor prospect who will be mentally ready to play a role as a rookie. However, his medical examination will play a massive role in where teams feel comfortable drafting him. Penix suffers from some correctable flaws, including inconsistent vision.

Role & Scheme Fit: Pocket passer in a spread offense

Round Projection: Second Round

Size: 6'3", 216 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 06-21-23