The national title game marked the final chance for Michael Penix Jr. to leave a lasting imp🌟ression on scouts and fans alike befor൲e the 2024 NFL Draft.
That memory proved to be unflattering.
Penix struggled against Michigan’s swarming secondary in Washington’s 34-13 loss to Michigan in the College Football Playof𒈔f 🌳championship game.
The southpaw quarterback completed 27-of-51 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown, along wit🦄h two interceptions﷽.
“For Michael Penix, it’s one game,” . “Do you throw it out? I guess you c๊an. Are some people gonna say, ‘Hey, this defines what he was in terms of w🌱here they thought he should be.’ If you thought he should be higher, you got to move him back a bit.
“How do you react to this onꦓe performance of Michael Penix Jr.? … I’m ♊probably going to move him down just a bit.”
The upcoming draft has three top-tier quarterback prospects in USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, while🔯 Penix and Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy are considered in the next tier of signal callers.
The Post’s Steve Serby had Penix going to the Raiders with the 13th pick in his mock that posted Monday🎶 before✅ the national title contest.
Penix posted robust😼 numbers this past season, throwing for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns while finishing second in the Heisman race.
However, he will be 24 next ꦬyear an🃏d has struggled with injuries in his career.
He did not play in m♌ore than seven games in each of his first four seasons with Indiana, although he appeared in 28 games over two years with Washington.
Those factors work against him.
How he performed in these games also can influence publi♏c op𒁏inion.
When Penix domina🌞ted Texas, Kiper said he looked like a top-five pick. But against Michigan, Kiper felt he played like a mid-round pick.
“He was like a pitcher … who didn’t have his good stuff,” Kiper said of Penix’s showing Monday. “Didn’t certainly bring anywhere close to an A-game, airmailing some throws.”
Kiper s൩aid he would project Penix to be drafted in the mid-to-late first round, although he knows some may have Penix going in the second round.
Said K﷽iper: “We’re going to be all over the place in terms of opinion and varying round projections ov𒁃erall for where Michael Penix Jr will be come April.”
