Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. wasn’t always a standout gunslinger in the Pac-12. Penix was committed to the Tennessee Volunteers for months ahead of early national signing day, but once a new regime took over in Knoxville, Tennessee, he had his offer pulled. Penix went into detail about what happened during media availability ahead of the College Football Playoff championship.
Penix was a long-time Tennessee commit in high school, but after head coach Butch Jones was fired, the athletic department decided to hire Jeremy Pruitt. Shortly after the announcement of Pruitt’s hiring, Penix took to social media to inform Tennessee fans that the new coaching staff had made it clear that he wasn’t wanted in Knoxville, Tennessee, which occurred a few short days before early national signing day.
He signed with the Indiana Hoosiers a week later. He flashed during his brief stint with them, but injuries derailed his career in the Big Ten. Penix entered the transfer portal and joined Washington two years ago. He’s gone on to have a prolific career with the Huskies, and in 2023 finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up and has his team poised for an undefeated run, barring they can defeat Michigan in the national championship game. Penix has thrown for 4,648 yards and 35 touchdowns thus far this season with one game left in his college career.
