Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. shows off speed at pro day،
SEATTLE — On his final pitch Thursday, Michael Penix Jr. highlighted his performance at the University of Washington's pro day by throwing a deep ball that traveled some 75 yards through the air to finish, demonstrating the arm talent that has made him one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's draft.
What happened at the start of training could have been more significant.
That's when Penix clocked under 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, perhaps checking an important box for the hundred or so NFL team representatives on hand to watch him and several other Huskies expected to be selected next month.
According to ESPN's Field Yates, a handful of scouts recorded Penix's lone run between 4.56 and 4.59.
“I’m a 4.4 guy, in my opinion,” Penix, last season’s Heisman Trophy finalist, said afterward. “Some people had 4.46, some people had 4.5, but it's not official, so I'm good. I just showed that I can run, so I feel good.”
Penix's speed is somewhat of a question mark after rushing for 8 yards on 35 attempts in 15 games last season. He rushed for 92 yards in 13 games in 2022 after his first four college seasons, all at Indiana, were cut short by injuries, including a pair of torn cruciate ligaments.
Like many other quarterbacks, Penix refused to run the 40 last month. He showed up only once on Thursday, giving up on a second attempt.
“I only ran once to show I could run and that’s it,” he said. “I had finished.”
Penix also had a vertical jump of 36.5 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 5 inches – both better than any other quarterback at the combine.
Penix, who was widely projected to be drafted in the first two rounds, was asked if he had been irritated by talk of his athleticism.
“I’m not irritated,” Penix said. “I always want to prove myself right. The competitor in me, I'm going to show it, I'm going to highlight it, I'm going to write my own story.”
Penix's 67 touchdown passes over the past two seasons were fourth-most in the nation. He threw 36 touchdowns last year while leading the Huskies to the national championship game, which they lost to Michigan.
After his deep heave to end Thursday's practice, Penix punctuated the end with his favorite celebration, pretending to pull an arrow from a quiver before launching it into the sky and then dropping the bow.
He was happy with his throwing session, except for a few misses.
“I don’t like missing shots,” he said. “I missed three shots, but I felt good. I felt good. I missed three shots out of 60, I can't complain.”
Afterward, Penix was seen chatting with New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. Penix told ESPN he has preliminary visits scheduled with the Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers starting next week.
Catcher Rome Odunze did not work out Thursday, instead choosing to rely on his performance at the combine. Odunze, expected to be drafted early in the first round, told ESPN that the Giants took him to East Rutherford, New Jersey, after the game and that he had visits planned with the Arizona Cardinals , the New York Jets and the Chicago Bears.
