Michael Penix on impact of being left-handed quarterback: 'I'm not a pitcher in baseball'

The end of the college football season is right around the corner, with the national championship game between future Big Ten combatants, the Michigan Wolverines, and Washington Huskies, set to kick off on Monday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Ahead of the game, members of the media got the opportunity to pick the brains of both Washington and Michigan’s coaching staffs along with their players. To the surprise of few, the Huskies’ star quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., has been front and center answering questions. However, on Saturday, his response to being left-handed and the benefits it provides might have been his best answer of the day.

“Like as far as — I’m not a pitcher in baseball, so I don’t know. It’s different with other sports. But football, I don’t feel like it’s an advantage, disadvantage. I don’t think so,” said Penix.

The Washington quarterback is familiar with questions about his left-handedness but appeared perplexed by the question, which leads to his initial humorous jump to baseball.

There are likely some benefits to being a left-handed quarterback instead of being right-handed, just as there are some disadvantages. Whether in baseball, basketball, or even golf, there are some distinct advantages to which hand is your primary hand. However, there are none for Penix, or at least the Huskies quarterback is unaware of them. But either way, that has not stopped him from lighting up opposing defenses on his way, leading Washington to their first national championship appearance in the college football playoffs and possibly their first title since 1991.

Kalen DeBoer details how Washington will carry identity to Big Ten next season

Penix and Washington’s head coach Kalen DeBoer had the challenge of answering the question of how he will carry the identity of this Huskies team into the Big Ten next season.

“I think it’s just always challenging ourselves to be our best. And our coaching staff will continue to evaluate the recruiting areas and things like that,” said DeBoer. “We’ll also be West Coast-based with our footprint, but there’s other opportunities that may come about. We have a lot of connections with our coaching staff, having a lot of Midwest and Big Ten former coaches on it already. And so we have a lot of confidence.”

The West Coast, California in particular, has been a hotbed for college football when it comes to some of the elite-level skill players, especially when it comes to high school recruiting. However, the NCAA transfer portal is proving pivotal in today’s game. And DeBoer and his coaching staff have done an excellent job at procuring talent from all over the United States using it, which is why the Huskies headman believes his program will be just fine in their new Big Ten home.