Washington football: Don’t sleep on Michael Penix in 2023 Heisman Trophy race

Prior to the 2022 season, first-year Washington football quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had never passed for more than 1,700 yards in his entire collegiate career.

At Indiana, he passed for over 4,000 total yards and 29 total touchdowns in four years to go along with 15 interceptions. He was much more of a rushing threat as he showed flashes of being a good passer, but there just wasn’t a ton of consistency there.

That all changed in 2022 after reuniting with his former offensive coordinator, Kalen DeBoer, in Seattle.

Penix finished with 4,641 yards and 31 touchdowns which surpassed his totals in four years at Indiana. He looked like a completely new quarterback and his arm was arguably the best in the nation as he finished second in college football in passing yards, 13th in touchdowns, and 13th in QBR. He wasn’t much of a running threat as he was in 2019 before a leg injury but he still managed to run for four more touchdowns.

Washington struck gold with Penix transferring in to resurrect the program.

The Washington football star needs to be in New York next year

While it’s way too early to say a player is a “lock” to be invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony next year, Penix should absolutely be worthy of an invite if he replicates his 2022 success and Washington is one of the top teams in the Pac-12 again.

I thought it was criminal that he wasn’t invited this year after finishing with over 4,600 yards and 31 touchdowns while turning the Huskies from Pac-12 bottom-dwellers into contenders.

But it’s clear that he needs to win over more doubters.

If Penix passes for 4,000 yards again with 30-plus touchdowns, less than 10 picks, and has a completion rate of 65, or so, while leading Washington to 10-plus wins, he should not only be invited to New York, but he should be a favorite to win the Heisman.

Give this man his respect.