One of the most interesting prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft is Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. The left-hander with a rifle arm has been on the college football radar since joining Seattle two years ago and is now aiming to make it to the NFL. He’s part of a very small list of left-handed quarterbacks who have had success in the NFL.
Thanks to the helpful staff at Panini, I was able to meet Penix Jr. and talk about cards, passing progressions, and the QBs he watches closely. Panini America will welcome Michael Penix Jr., along with several other NFL players and draft prospects, to the Panini Prism VIP event in Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl Weekend.
JP Acosta (JA): So what are you doing with Panini during the Super Bowl?
Michael Penix Jr. (MPJ): Right now I’m at Panini’s house and spending time with them. There’s a lot of cool stuff going on here, autograph signings, trading cards and more coming soon. So I’m just enjoying my time here in Las Vegas, you know?i was with them [Panini] From before the season. It was a really good process. And I’ve enjoyed it so far.
EN: So, when you were a kid, did you collect player cards like Panini? If so, did your favorite player whose card you were trying to collect grow?
MPJ: I haven’t collected many player cards since I was a kid, but when I say players I wanted cards for, I mean great people like quarterbacks. In my case, I was watching Mike Vick and Tom Brady.
EN: You received a lot of love and appreciation from Indiana fans during Washington’s undefeated run to the national championship last season. What did you think when you saw that love and gratitude even after the transfer?
MPJ: Actually, I didn’t really watch it. As you know, I don’t use social media much. But I saw some of it, but somewhere I spent a lot of time and put a lot of effort and dedication into the program and you still support me. It’s good to know even if I have to move on. It’s great to have support like this.
EN: What was that process of learning how left-handed quarterbacks work when everything in the world seems to be taught towards right-handed quarterbacks and right-handed people?
MPJ: As far as the whole left hand, right hand thing goes, I feel like that didn’t really happen. Well, it didn’t really affect me. If it’s hard for someone, it’s probably even harder for the trainer and other coaches who were training me. For me, I could always see him play right-handed and it was always easy for him to pick it up and flip it over to his left side. myself.
EN: One of the things I admire about your game is that you throw from the table. So I was wondering how you train yourself to be able to not only throw downfield but also out of the pocket so that you can get the ball. accurately.
MPJ: I feel like a lot of it came naturally. Of course, when you do quarterback training and things like that, you do similar drills, but when I first started playing quarterback, I was throwing sidearm. I played baseball and I didn’t really have the mechanics, so I didn’t really know how to throw, so I started throwing sidearms really naturally, but, well, a lot of it comes naturally. I feel that.
EN: Washington had three great receivers in Roman Odunze, Jalen McMillian, and Jalin Polk. How does having receivers like them on the outside change the pass progression?
MPJ: It didn’t really change at all, but you know, it’s all built into the play. I think they did a good job of trying to get the ball to their open opponents. And if I feel like everyone’s gloved up (covered) and I trust one of them to put the ball in the right place, you know, they’re going to take my place. He will make plays. So it became easier to be honest.
EN: Let’s say you’re building a playbook for yourself. What are two or three of your favorite pass concepts to have? For example, if it’s called, I’m like, “Oh, I’m cooking with this.”
MPJ: The first thing I’ll say is the four vertices. Four baht works for anything and obviously I like to show off my skills. So four vertices are number one and then I like the concept of options. Overall, including option routes. I’m just trying to find ways to give recipients multiple options and different ways to be open. His quick release and ability to make throws from the platform makes him feel like he can quickly adjust and react to any route.
EN: So on these option routes, are you reading the defender’s leverage, or how?
MPJ: I’m reading the receiver. Like if you have the right options and the defender has leverage inside and the receiver still breaks inside and gets open.It’s just based on the movies and how he does it. [the defender] It’s the technique he’s playing. So the option route requires reading the receiver.
EN: Given what you’ve been through, what would you tell your 18-year-old self about the process of going to college like you?
MPJ: Just keep fighting. Adversity will always appear, so be prepared for it and be ready to attack it. In other words, be prepared to keep improving and moving in a positive direction.
EN: Which QBs, current or former, do you look at in the NFL and imitate or model your style of play?
MPJ: I’m not trying to imitate anyone, I’m trying to be the best version of myself. When I was a kid, I used to watch Mike Vick. I saw Teddy Bridgewater when he was at Louisville. I feel like he was a great quarterback as well before he got injured and stuff, but really it was those two guys.
EN: Michael, one last question for you, if he comes to the NFL, who will the NFL bring in for Michael Penix Jr.?
MPJ: They’ll get a proven winner. I’ve been able to win everywhere I’ve gone, but things haven’t always been the best. You know, I feel like every time I’m on the field, I’m finding a way to win with the team. I’m the best quarterback in this draft for a number of reasons, but I just know that I can make any throw at any time.
I also got to break down one of my favorite passes of Penix’s entire career, a 76-yard touchdown against Oregon in 2022. This was totally definitive, and hearing Penix talk about it was even cooler.
