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Michael Penix Jr. making case to be No. 1 pick in NFL Draft, per Matt Leinart

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•01/01/24•

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Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Matt Leinart had quite the take about Michael Penix Jr. amid the Washington quarterback’s Sugar Bowl performance.

As the Huskies quarterback diced up the Texas defense in the College Football Playoff, Leinart loved what he saw. The former USC Heisman Trophy winner opted for him over, potentially, USC’s Caleb Williams, last year’s Heisman winner.

Penix Jr. was as hot as any quarterback in college football this season and gave Washington a 34-21 lead in the fourth quarter.

“Michael Penix Jr. Making a case to be the top pick in the draft? As pure a thrower I’ve ever seen,” Leinart wrote on Twitter.

At the time of Leinart’s tweet, Penix Jr. was 24-of-32 passing for 372 yards and two touchdowns at that point of the fourth quarter.

Coming into the game (13 games), Penix Jr. had a career year with 4,218 yards, 33 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 65.9% completion percentage. He was a Heisman finalist and fell short to LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

Michael Penix Jr. ‘thankful’ for historic season at Washington

Coming into the game, Penix Jr. put everything into perspective prior to the College Football Playoff, when he spoke with On3.

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“It meant a lot because it’s come with a lot of team success,” Penix Jr. told On3. “Being able to be part of such a great program and great team are what I’m most thankful for. All the work that we put in behind the scenes and to see the fruits of it come to fruition on gameday is the ultimate joy.”

But to get to this point wasn’t easy. Washington had to dispatch Oregon twice, one in the regular season and again in the Pac-12 Championship.

Many considered the Ducks the best team in the conference despite the head-to-head loss to the Huskies.

But thanks to some clutch throws by Penix Jr. in both games, leading to winning scores, Washington came out on top, 13-0 and Pac-12 champions.

“I think it all boils down to preparation,” Penix Jr. said. “When you prepare and put the work in then you’re ready for any moment that the game brings you. Also, I have the utmost confidence in my guys to make plays in the biggest moments. So I just try to give those guys a chance to be the great players that they are.”