By Scott Salomon
Michael Penix Jr. had an outstanding season, some might even be willing to go as far as saying he was the best quarterback in the country in 2023. But, he was not viewed by the Heisman Trust as the best player in the country. That award went to Jayden Daniels of LSU. Penix, Jr. being bypassed was perhaps the greatest Heisman snub in the history of the award.
Here are the complete 2023 #HeismanTrophy voting results from @DeloitteUS. #MoreThanATrophy pic.twitter.com/zj7FuTq6I3
— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) December 10, 2023
Once again, the Heisman Trophy was not awarded to the best college football in the player in the country. That designation, in my humble opinion, goes to Penix, Jr. While I do not knock Daniels and the season that he had for the Tigers, Penix, Jr. just got more of his teammates and led his team to the championship game on Monday against Michigan. Washington has been picked by many to win the title.
Penix Jr. went to the Sugar Bowl and threw the ball all over the field. He finished the win over Texas with 430 yards passing and two touchdowns. He completed a whopping 76 percent of his passes and threw no interceptions.
For the season, Penix Jr. completed 67 percent of his passes and has a touchdown to interception ratio of almost 4-1. He threw 35 scoring strikes and was only picked off nine times while amassing 4,648 yards in only 14 games.
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In contrast, Daniels completed 236-of-327 passes for 3,812 yards, 40 TDs and only 4 interceptions. Daniels is more of a dual threat quarterback, but he did not lead LSU to an undefeated season and he lost games that LSU should have won.
A Dream Come True. It’s through faith and hard work.
Heisman Winner @JayD__5 pic.twitter.com/GSflVj0icw
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) December 10, 2023
Penix Jr., a Tampa, Florida native, credits his offensive line with giving him the time to maintain his pocket presence and to sit back and find an open receiver.
“Give them boys big hugs and tell them I love them (laughter). I’ve been able to do quite a few things. I’ve been to dinner out with those guys. Been able to get those guys flight vouchers, get them a free flight, a round-trip flight anywhere they want to go during the offseason,” Penix, Jr. said. “There’s been a lot. Our connection, it extends way outside of the field. My relationship with the whole team, just trying to find ways to be involved and be around those guys has definitely been something I’ve been pushing myself to do, to be the best player and best teammate that I can be.”
“So it’s been smaller stuff too that I’ve done behind the scenes. Those guys know that I appreciate them a lot.”
Count his coach Kalen DeBoer as a believer and one of Penix Jr.’s biggest fans. DeBoer coached Penix Jr. at his previous stop in Indiana and when DeBoer took the job at Washington two seasons ago, Penix, Jr. hit the portal and landed in Spokane with his coach.
The signal caller remembers his thought process in following DeBoer to Washington and one particular conversation seemed to ice the deal.
“I was talking to Devin Culp yesterday. He came up to me, he’s like: Brah, I remember our first conversation we had when you first came in the spring. So I was probably like two, three months in. I kind of remember the conversation. He remembered it more than me. He was like: Man, I remember you told me – he said this is what I said.“
Penix, Jr. went on to add the following statement which punctuates his time at Washington and the elevation of the Huskies to the national elite.
“I said that I watched the film and I told him that we can beat anybody, anybody out there. When I say watched the film, I’m saying watched the film on the University of Washington, the guys. I seen all the guys I had around me. I knew it was going to be something special, because I knew the offense that Coach DeBoer was going to bring in was going to be special,” Penix, Jr. said. “And with the guys we had, I knew we would be able to make something special out of it. He just reminded me about that yesterday, and I was like: Oh, yeah, I remember that conversation.”
DeBoer believes in his quarterback and is grateful for what he brings to his offense and to the Huskies in general.
“I think as time gone on, he has really pushed himself to the new levels. The talent, the skill set has always about there. I think his instinctiveness, his football IQ, I knew this back four years ago that it was elite. But he’s had guys now surround him that can make plays, can protect him,” DeBoer said at a press conference before the Sugar Bowl. “I think what’s really, to answer your question, been key is how much he’s involved as a leader, as he’s become more comfortable in the program. And to think there’s things that he’s done that just in those big moments, whether it’s leading our team down the field when our backs are to the wall, not just this year but last year, time and time again he’s done that, he’s come through.”
The Washington head coach credits Penix Jr.’s work ethic and his constant drive to become the best he can be for his teammates, as one of the greatest traits that the Tampa Tech High graduate possesses.
“He does it on the field with his production. He’s a relentless worker. He’s really pushed hard to help himself be his best,” DeBoer said. “I think his leadership is probably one of the biggest areas where we’ve seen as a team him just really step out in front and not be afraid to put the team on his shoulders.”
This is Part One of a Two-Part Series. Tomorrow we will highlight my five greatest Heisman Snubs of the Modern Era, which includes Penix Jr. being at the top of the list.
