Michael Penix Jr. Stays Focused on His Community Impact

Only one game separates Michael Penix Jr. and Washington from playing in the national championship and a chance to claim the program’s first title since 1991.

Even though Penix will miss out on celebrating the holidays at home with his family — the No. 2 Huskies held bowl practice through Christmas Eve, then flew out to New Orleans on Christmas Day — the sixth-year quarterback remains excited about his team’s College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl.

“The preparation, it won’t change much just because of the caliber of game,” Penix tells The Messenger. “But obviously we’re playing for something very big right now — we have been the whole season. And we still have that same mindset to go out there and find a way to win.”

The Huskies captured their first Pac-12 championship since 2018 (and the last-ever Pac-12 title), after an incredible unbeaten season, which featured a pair of thrilling victories over rival Oregon. Penix’s play propelled Washington’s ascension. The 6-foot-3, 213-pound southpaw led the country in passing yards (4,218), and his 33 touchdown passes ranked fourth nationally, earning him recognition as a first-team All-American and Heisman runner-up.

Penix, 23, is miraculously on the verge of a fairy-tale career ending, after transferring from Indiana to Washington and overcoming two ACL tears, developing into a potential first-round NFL draft pick.

“Obviously, my path, it wasn’t straight,” Penix says. “I’ve had a lot of injuries, but I know that motivated me into the person and man I am today, you know? Last two years, I was able to stay healthy and I’ve been able to help my team win football games. That’s what I always wanted to do.”

Penix’s journey has molded a humble character that has been fully embraced by the Washington community over his two seasons in Seattle. His appreciation for his unconventional trajectory correlates with the passion he bears for those nearest to him.

Over the past year, Penix referred to his brothers, Mishon and Mekhi, for being his “why.” He hugged his mother, Takisha, in the aftermath of Washington’s close win against Oregon in October. So it was fitting that he references his father, Michael Penix Sr., when asked about who helped influence his grounded personality.

“I’m from a small city and it was always my dad that was impacting all the youth throughout the city,” Penix Jr. says. “I definitely feel like that comes from [my father], I think love for the community and always trying to be that positive role model for the youth in our city. I’ve seen it firsthand in my household so since a young age, that was something I wanted to do: be able to give back and make an impact on not just myself and my team, but kids around the community as well.”

This holiday season, Penix backed up those words with action. Last week, he took time to personally meet with two Huskies fans, playing a Santa Claus-like role for a moment certain to be as memorable for them as his game-winning touchdown pass against Oregon. As part of Penix’s NIL deal with Amazon, whose headquarters are in Seattle (and whose worldwide reach helped inspire Penix to be a part of the campaign), he made a pair of special deliveries as part of the company’s celebration of its billionth package delivered from a U.S. Same-Day site.

“The looks on their faces,” Penix recalls of his deliveries, a smile tangible through the phone. “They didn’t know I was coming! It was priceless. It was definitely something that was very special.”

In some ways, the spreading of cheer helped make up for Penix missing out on spending the time with his family. The season, he admits, “It’s a grind. It’s what you sign up for, though. I wouldn’t wanna be in any other spot, you know? Having an opportunity to play in the College Football Playoffs, definitely something big for myself and our team.”

When it comes to the holidays, Penix says, “Sometimes you’ve gotta miss out on those to get the bigger reward that you’ve been searching for for a long time.” If everything goes Penix’s way next week, perhaps missing festivities back home will be worth it.