SEATTLE — On his remaining throw Thursday, Michael Penix Jr. put a bow on his efficiency on the College of Washington professional day by unleashing a deep ball that traveled some 75 yards within the air for a completion, exhibiting off the arm expertise that has made him one of many prime quarterback prospects on this yr’s draft.
What occurred firstly of the exercise may need really been extra important.
That is when Penix posted a sub-4.6-second time within the 40-yard sprint, maybe checking off an necessary field to the roughly 100 representatives from NFL groups available to look at him and several other different Huskies who’re anticipated to be chosen subsequent month.
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In accordance with ESPN’s Discipline Yates, a handful of scouts clocked Penix’s lone run at 4.56 to 4.59.
“I am a 4.4 man, in my view,” Penix, the runner-up for the final season’s Heisman Trophy, mentioned afterward. “Some folks had 4.46, some folks had 4.5, however that is unofficial, so I am good. I simply confirmed I can run, so I really feel good.”
Penix’s pace has been one thing of a query mark after he ran for all of 8 yards on 35 makes an attempt over 15 video games final season. He ran for 92 yards in 13 video games in 2022 after his first 4 faculty seasons, all at Indiana, have been lower quick by accidents, together with a pair of torn ACLs.
Like a number of different quarterbacks, Penix declined to run the 40 on the scouting mix final month. He ran solely as soon as Thursday, opting in opposition to a second try.
“I used to be solely operating one time to indicate I can run and that is it,” he mentioned. “I used to be completed.”
Penix additionally posted a 36.5-inch vertical leap and a broad leap of 10 ft, 5 inches — each of which have been higher than every other quarterback on the mix.
Penix, who has been extensively projected to be drafted throughout the first two rounds, was requested whether or not he has been irritated by the speak about his athleticism.
“I ain’t irritated,” Penix mentioned. “I simply all the time wish to show myself proper. The competitor in me, I’ll present it, I’ll showcase it, I’ll write my very own narrative.”
Penix’s 67 landing passes over the previous two seasons have been the fourth most within the nation. He threw 36 TDs final yr whereas main the Huskies to the nationwide championship recreation, which they misplaced to Michigan.
After his deep heave to finish Thursday’s exercise, Penix punctuated the completion along with his go-to celebration, pretending to drag an arrow out of a quiver earlier than launching it into the sky after which dropping the bow.
He was happy along with his throwing session, save for just a few misfires.
“I do not like lacking throws,” he mentioned. “I missed like three throws, however I felt good, although. I felt good. Lacking three throws out of 60, I can not complain.”
Afterward, Penix was seen chatting with New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and common supervisor Joe Schoen. Penix informed ESPN that he has pre-draft visits scheduled with the Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers starting subsequent week.
Large receiver Rome Odunze didn’t work out Thursday, opting as an alternative to face on his efficiency on the mix. Odunze, projected to be drafted early within the first spherical, informed ESPN that the Giants flew him to East Rutherford, New Jersey, after the mix and that he has visits lined up with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets and Chicago Bears.
