Michael Penix Jr among multiple opt-outs for Senior Bowl game
Michael Penix was one of the bigger names who went through Senior Bowl practices this week in Mobile. But when it came time to show off his arm in the actual game, the former Washington star opted out.
Penix, who should be one of the top quarterbacks available in April’s NFL Draft, decided he’d done enough at the Senior Bowl. The daily practices are likened to mini NFL combines. They’re so important to the scouting process that NFL Network showed the workouts live.
“First of all, I came in to do whatever I could to make an impact … to make my presence felt … just come out here and enjoy competing at a high level,” Penix told Sirius/XM NFL Radio. “And I feel like I’ve been doing that all week.
“It’s been a collective decision between me and me and my team,” said the Heisman Trophy runner up. “Just making sure, just checking off all the boxes and just thinking about everything that’s that’s right here in front of me. So that’s all it was.”
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Penix was set to start the Senior Bowl before he made his decision. Other quarterbacks only played a limited number of snaps.
“I felt really good, not just myself but other quarterbacks as well,” Penix said, as he mentioned other Senior Bowl quarterbacks Bo Nix and Sam Hartman.
”We did a great job throughout the week,” he said. “Just continuing to get better each and every day. I’m super excited to see what they do out here today and I’m gonna be supporting them.”
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Spencer Rattler earned Senior Bowl MV honors. He was four of four for 65 yards. And he also threw a 29-yard touchdown to Georgia’s Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint.
“I felt like I wanted to come out here, create relationships and have fun,” Rattler told reporters. “This was just the cherry on top.”
The top three quarterback prospects weren’t competing at the Senior Bowl. Former Heisman winner Caleb Williams still is viewed as the best prospect in the draft although he had an off year last fall with USC. North Carolina’s Drake Maye also is a contender for the top spot. Jayden Daniels, the LSU star and reigning Heisman winner, also could go high in the first round. Michigan J.J. McCarthy also is a first-round option, although he’s projected to go later in the opening round.
Meanwhile, NFL teams likely have concerns about Penix’s surgically-repaired right knee. He needed two ACL surgeries. But he’s been healthy the past two seasons. ESPN reported that renowned Los Angeles surgeon Dr. Neal S. ElAttrache examined Penix’s knee. He’ll be available to talk to any team who has concerns.