With a purple durag, a big up to Dade City in Tampa and a “Free Juli!” shout out, Washington star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. gave us what we needed in the College Football Playoffs.
Someone real that we could both relate to and cheer for.
We loved the durag and shout outs because it showed another side of the star who lit up Texas for 430 yards and 2 TDs.
But what really draws fans to Penix is his story of never quitting despite situations that would deter most from pressing forward with their dream.
Michael Penix Jr. endured season after season of injury and disappointment, including four straight seasons ending early thanks to devastating injuries. An ACL tear in his 2018 freshman year at Indiana and a dislocated AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder in 2019. A year later, he had the Hoosiers ranked in the top 10 before suffering another tearing his ACL again. In 2021, a dislocated shoulder prematurely ended the season.
Four straight years filled with disappointment, frustration and pain. That would make most walk away from the game despite their love and commitment.
But Penix refused to quit.
So he hit the transfer portal for a fresh start and headed to the Pacific Northwest where he reunited with Kalen DeBoer, the former offensive coordinator at Indiana and Washington’s new head coach.
The change of scenery was the catalyst Penix needed.
In 2022, Penix played in 13 games, throwing for 4,641 yards, 31 TDs and 8 INTs. Most importantly, he remained healthy for an entire season for the first time in his collegiate career. With a healthy Penix under center, the Huskies went 11-2 and, ironically, beat Texas in the postseason Valero Alamo Bowl to cap off a season of relief and joy for the oft-injured QB.
His talents were never in question. His laser-accurate passing was proof of that.
But when you are recognized more for the injury bug than you are for your skills on the field, the challenge of proving critics wrong becomes more daunting.
That’s why 2023 was a crucial season for Penix. He had to show that he could stay healthy in back-to-back seasons and that he could carry the Huskies to a national championship.
When athletes suffer multiple devastating injuries like Penix did, the fear of making that one wrong cut remains constant, causing some to hesitate on the field.
But Penix is built different.
There were rumors that his physical and mental anguish was leading him to quit the game he loved, but his friends, family and faith helped him get through those dark times.
“First of all, I’m going to say that I’m not no quitter,” said Penix after the Huskies’ Sugar Bowl win. “It did get hard for me at times, but I had to lean on the ones I love the most….I’m super blessed and I gotta thank the man above. I gotta thank God.”
In December, Penix finished as the Heisman runner-up to LSU star quarterback Jayden Daniels.
On Monday night, purple and white confetti showered down on Michael Penix Jr. and his teammates as they celebrated their semifinal win. It was a moment of reflection for Washington’s star player.
“I was going through some tough things throughout my career,” said Penix. “But I always say, ‘Man, I feel like everything I’ve been through built me for this moment. Built me into the man and the person and the player I am today.’ So I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
But while Penix cherished the moment, he knew the job wasn’t done yet.
“We got one more to go,” he said to the excited fans after the team’s big win. “We goin’ to the natty, man. Let’s go.”
Michael Penix Jr. is headed to the national championship, and he’s bringing Tampa, his friends back home and Husky nation along with him on a journey six years in the making.
Like we said. Built different.
