As the Washington Huskies get ready for the College Football Playoff National Championship, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will play his last game at the collegiate level after having a Heisman-like season.
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This season, Penix has thrown for an NCAA-best 4,648 yards and 35 touchdowns, all while completing 67% of his passes and throwing just nine interceptions. With those numbers, Penix became just the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for over 4,500 yards in back-to-back seasons.
While there is a group of people out there who were not familiar with Penix's game given his second-place finish in the Heisman voting, all eyes were on him and the Huskies on Monday night. In Washington's 37-31 win over Texas in the Sugar Bowl, Penix threw for 430 yards and two touchdowns while completing 76% of his throws. Simply put, he balled out.
Penix has that "it" factor that allows him to remain calm and collected. He's able to perform at the highest ability during clutch time. So, where does Penix get this from? Well, look no further than his parents, Michael Penix Sr. and Takisha Penix.
Michael Penix Jr. Comes From an Athletic Family
Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Michael's father, Michael Penix Sr., played football for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in the 1990s. During his time with the Golden Eagles, Penix Sr. set multiple records including points in a season (78), rushing yards in a game (261). His touchdown run of 94 yards still stands as the longest run from scrimmage in program history. Penix Sr.'s 1,208 rushing yards in 1995 rank fifth all-time in school history. He finished his career with 11 games of rushing for over 100 yards.
His father said Penix Jr. took his first steps as a toddler on a football field at Pasco High School in Florida.
"I put him on the ground and he walked, because I always took him to practice with me," Penix Sr., who was an assistant there, told the Tampa Bay Times. "And the trainers would watch him while I practiced."
But young Michael, who was born where Tennessee Tech is located in Cookeville, Tenn., but was raised in Tampa, Fla., has plenty more athletes in his family. Takisha Penix, Michael's mother, was a member of the Tennessee Tech track and field team.
Their strong genes did not stop with Michael, as his younger brother, Mekhi, followed in his parents' footsteps, attending Tennessee Tech as a member of the Golden Eagles' football team. Mekhi, played football and track and field in high school, is a wide receiver for Tennessee Tech and redshirted his freshman year due to an injury but has high expectations for his career.
One can only guess how competitive the two brothers were growing up despite the slight age gap, but it is pretty safe to say the parents of Michael and Mekhi could not be more proud of the success their two sons have had.
While one son's college career is just beginning, the other son's college career is coming to an end and will be taking center stage in Houston Monday night for the national title game. Michael is going to leave some pretty big shoes for Mekhi to fill, but if Mekhi is as good as his brother or his dad is, he will have no issues filling those shoes and making an impact on the game in his own way.
Penix Jr.'s Parents Once Drove 16 Hours For Him
Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
When Penix beat Texas in the Alamo Bowl in 2022, breaking the Washington single-season record for passing yards in the process, his parents made sure not to miss it. Even when their flight from Florida was canceled.
Takisha and Michael Sr. drove 16 hours, crossing states in The South like Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Their son was thankful to have them with him for the monumental win.
"I'm just blessed they were safe," Penix said in a postgame interview. "I pray they make it back safe."
Michael Penix Jr.'s parents where loving that TD ❤️ pic.twitter.com/anoZjFEI7m
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 5, 2023
And if you look in the stands, they're the ones cheering louder than anyone.
