Countdown to 2019 IUFB Kickoff: Nine Days (Michael Penix)

Written by T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

2019 Countdown - #9

Name – Michael Penix Jr.

Position – Quarterback (Redshirt Freshman)

Hometown – Tampa, Florida (Tampa Bay Tech)

Height – 6’3”

Weight – 202 pounds

The 2019 Hoosier Huddle Countdown is in single digits! Hallelujah! In only nine days, the Indiana Hoosiers will travel Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and clash with the Ball State Cardinals. Today’s countdown feature focuses on one of the more intriguing pieces to the 2019 puzzle: quarterback Michael Penix.

There was a palpable buzz when the true freshman quarterback entered the game. Indiana fans had seem glimpses of him in two previous contests but now was the first chance to see the young rocket-armed passer against a Big Ten defense. With the offense struggling to gain traction against the dominant Penn State Nittany Lions defense, Michael Penix Jr. entered the contest. Business quickly picked up for the Hoosiers and there was an increased level of energy that filled Memorial Stadium. Penix went 9-19 for 94 yards and it was clear that the ball came out of his hands with a crispness that IU’s other quarterbacks just didn’t have. However, as he stepped forward and escaped the pocket for a few of his 24 passing yards, Penix went down in a heap and just like that, his season was over. The freshman from Tampa, Florida had torn his ACL. Despite not being fully healthy himself, Peyton Ramsey would finish the season as the Indiana quarterback and IU would come up just short of a bowl game.

Michael Penix Jr. came to Indiana after starting for two seasons at Tampa Bay Technical High School. He threw for 61 touchdowns to just six interceptions and added 16 rushing touchdowns. In addition to football, he was a centerfielder for the baseball team and a star on the track team. Penix joined high school teammate Jonathan King and a slew of other Sunshine State young men in Bloomington as Tom Allen continued to reap the rewards of his connections in Florida. Penix enrolled early and competed in the spring of 2018 with an eye on playing in the 2018 season. He began as the backup to Peyton Ramsey, making his debut in the season-opener against Florida International and going 8-10 for 96 yards with a touchdown. He played against Ball State and the October 20 game against Penn State was his third game. Thankfully, that means he was able to redshirt the 2018 season and he is now a redshirt freshman.

Michael Penix Jr. has the best arm of the Indiana quarterbacks and he is now fully healthy and healed from the ACL injury. With a new offensive coordinator calling the shots, no one knows exactly what to expect from the offense but the belief is that if the desire is to stretch the field vertically, Michael Penix gives the Hoosiers their best chance. He has competed with Peyton Ramsey and fellow redshirt freshman Jack Tuttle for the starting quarterback job and we will find out shortly just what the plan is for the most important position on the field.

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown continues each day so check back daily!