Kalen DeBoer makes case for Michael Penix Jr. to win Heisman Trophy

Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer made his case for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to win the Heisman Trophy this season.

With a 13-0 record, a Pac-12 title and big time numbers, Penix Jr. is right in the thick of the race. DeBoer did not see a better candidate for the award this season based on everything listed above.

Following the announcement of Washington as the No. 2 team in the College Football Playoff, DeBoer stated the case for Penix Jr.

“Yeah, I think just first of all, he’s 13-0,” DeBoer said. “I think what you do is you look at the greatest moments when the greatest players have to rise and step up, and he did again the other night. A three point game behind and we found a way to get ahead.

“Driving our football team down the field, defense has to be a part of it, right? They gotta get the ball back to you. But he does it again, takes us the length of the field, you know, gives us the lead.”

Penix Jr. was clutch once again despite not gaudy numbers in the Pac-12 title game. But the Huskies don’t win the game without him.

“And then there’s the moments, you know, and let’s go back to the Oregon game the first time, you know, wins the football game with a throw, you know, finding ways to lead us against Washington State in the Apple Cup,” DeBoer said.

“There are those big moments where you do that and win those games because you have the trigger man. You have the guy that doesn’t just put up all these crazy stats, you know, but a guy that leads your football team, which takes me to what he does, leading.”

DeBoer could not sing Penix Jr.’s praises enough when it came to the quarterback’s leadership.

“When he gathers the team around after I get done with my talk, and just takes it to another level,” DeBoer said. “What he does at the end of the fourth quarter or at the end of the third quarter at the break, where you know, when you’re exhausted and given everything you have you get the team around you and just pour your heart and soul into challenging these guys … 

“It means so much more when it comes from a player and when it comes from your quarterback who you have all the trust in the world and man, it just doesn’t get any better than that.” 

This season, Penix Jr. has 4,218 yards, 33 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 65.9% completion percentage.

“And so the statistics are one thing, the winds are another, the leadership, he’s just a class act through and through,” DeBoer said. “It’s first and foremost all about this team. The Heisman would be a piece of where, you know, it just be an awesome thing that many years down the road will be an awesome honor for him to continue to look back on. 

“But right now I can tell you first and foremost what he’s about as us to our team winning this next football game and in hopes of getting onto a national championship.”