A Bulked up Michael Penix is Ready to Prove He Can Be the Quarterback IU Can Rely on in 2020

Michael Penix throws a pass during spring practice Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana quarterback Michael Penix has something to prove in 2020. It’s not whether he can play at the Big Ten level, it’s if he can survive an entire season in the Big Ten. Penix won the starting quarterback job out of fall camp prior to the 2019 season, but was limited to just parts of seven games because of injury. His season ended after an injury suffered against Northwestern required surgery.

Penix is healthy now and is tipping the scales at 220 pounds. “The goals, we talked about 220 (pounds), so I hit that pretty quick, but just wherever is comfortable and whatever is going to help the team, and as long as I still feel like I can move, I feel good” Penix told the media on Friday.

It took Penix “about two months before I was able to throw, so mid-January maybe I started throwing, and just getting into rehab, with Jacob, he's one of our trainers, he works with me all the time. He pushes me every day. Some days you don't always want to do it, but he always just reminds me of what the end goal is and just making sure that I come in every single day with the positive mindset to make sure I want to come out here and compete and play hard for the team.”

The big armed Floridian knows he needs to stay on the field and that it is something he has to prove to the fans, coaches and himself. “I'm very determined (to stay on the field). As I said, I'm working hard every single day in the weight room and in rehab, just making sure that my body is healthy.”

For Penix, this spring is the first time he will be both healthy and the clear choice as the number one quarterback. At practice he looks noticeably thicker and stronger. He can still rip throws down the middle and air out deep passes. There’s a focus and bounce in his step that shows you that he enjoys the challenge ahead of him.

Penix has plenty to work with this season and spent his time between being cleared to throw and spring practice working with his receivers as well as bulking up in the weight room. So who is Penix excited to play with in the receiving corps that fans may be sleeping on?

“Jordan Jakes, he's been coming out and throwing with us, as well,” Penix said Friday. “He's been going extremely hard. I've seen him more focused than he's been since he's been here. I see him working hard every day. He doesn't miss any throwing sessions that we have, and that's something that impresses me. We also have Jacoby Hewitt coming off an ACL injury. He's coming back, and he's working hard, as well, and he's just making sure that he just puts in all the work. I'm one person that he talks to a lot, especially with the injury, because we had the same injury, so he's always just asking me have I ever felt this way, have I ever felt this way, so I always try to keep him level-headed and keep him positive and make sure that he's looking forward and not blinking. And then Miles Marshall, he had play time last year, as well. He made a lot of big plays for us, and we're looking forward to him making more of those plays this season.”

The Hoosiers will be on the field again on Tuesday as spring practice resumes. The Hoosiers will hold their annual Cream and Crimson spring football game on April 17th at 7pm in Memorial Stadium.