Michael Penix Jr.

Michael Tarrence Penix Jr. (born May 8, 2000) is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). After three seasons of college football with the Indiana Hoosiers that were limited by injury, Penix had a breakout year with the Washington Huskies in 2022 when he led the FBS in yards per game and set the school season record for passing yards. The following year, he won the Maxwell Award after leading the NCAA in passing yards en route to an appearance in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. Penix was selected by the Falcons eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft.

Early life
Penix was born in Cookeville, Tennessee, but later moved and was raised in Dade City, Florida. Penix attended Tampa Bay Technical High School and started at quarterback for the Titans for two seasons, passing for 4,243 yards with 61 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He committed to Indiana University to play college football.

Indiana (2018–2021)
As a true freshman for the Hoosiers in 2018 at Indiana, Penix played in three games, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and was redshirted. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. Named the starter entering the 2019 season,  Penix, however, only played in six games due to injury, completing 110 of 160 passes for 1,394 yards, with ten touchdowns and four interceptions. Penix returned to Indiana as the starter for the pandemic-shortened season in 2020. On November 30, he was ruled out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in a win against Maryland.

Washington (2022–2023)
Penix transferred to the University of Washington in December 2021. He was the FBS leader in passing yards per game for the 2022 season (357) and led the Huskies to an 11–2 record. He threw 4,641 passing yards, becoming the Washington Huskies all-time single-season passing leader during the Alamo Bowl. He was named AP Comeback Player of the Year.

His senior year, Penix led the 2023 Huskies to an undefeated 13-0 regular season, a victory over Texas in the CFP Semifinal Game, and the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game, which they lost 34–13 to Michigan. Penix won the Maxwell Award and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, the highest ever for a Husky. He led the NCAA in passing yards with 4,903, beating his previously set University of Washington single-season passing yards record. Penix was named MVP of the Pac-12 Championship Game, leading UW to a win over rival No. 5 Oregon, and threw for 27-for-39 for 319 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Professional career
Penix was selected by the Atlanta Falcons eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft. The pick was seen as a major surprise as the Falcons had signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract earlier in the offseason. He was one of six quarterbacks taken in the first round, tying the 1983 draft for the most in NFL history. On June 24, 2024, Penix signed his four-year rookie contract with the Falcons worth $22.8 million.

Personal life
Penix is a Christian. His father was a running back for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in the 1990s and holds several school rushing records, with his mother running track at Tennessee Tech.