Tyler Stearns |
Michael Penix proved himself on a National Stage against Texas in the Sugar Bowl. He threw for over 400 yards and 2 touchdowns and consistently made impressive throws in key situations. His situational awareness, pocket presence and decision making in the pocket were on full on display. He made plays with his legs that demonstrate athleticism which will come in handy at the next level. He is a complete quarterback and a great NFL draft prospect. There are certainly issues that will need to be confronted such as a history of season ending injuries which is why he is now mainly a pocket passing quarterback. He also dealt with some consistency issues throughout the last half of the season. He is supported by a slew of talented receivers in Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Giles Jackson and Ja’Lynn Polk, a luxury he is unlikely to enjoy in a pro set up. Penix was expected to be drafted somewhere late in the first round depending on how the other top ranked quarterbacks were selected. With his run into the CFP he is making a strong case to move up.
At the start of the season, the class was headlined by QB Caleb Williams who was the 2022 Heisman winner whose heroics for USC last regular season dazzled the football world college to the pros. His ability to move in and out of the pocket allowing him to find open receivers down field is an invaluable trait in today’s NFL. He also has the arm strength to make throws deep down field with pinpoint accuracy. He is also very athletic and can use his legs to extend a play or get a first down. He has been prone to signs of excess emotion after a loss or an interception. He paints his nails with quotes about other teams in an antagonistic manner. He has drawn comparisons to the fictional character Bo Callahan from Draft Day because of his actions on and off the field. He faced a tough back half of the season as USC went 7-5 this year when they were expected to compete for a playoff spot. His offensive line took a hit this year and he lost his number one wide receiver in Jordan Addison, which contributed to slightly more inconsistency though without his contribution USC’s season would have ended in far worse shape.
So who is a better prospect, Caleb Williams or Michael Penix? Though Penix had the greater impact this season in the stats and win columns, Williams' body of work, improvisational talent and playmaking attributes combined make him one of the greatest prospects of our time and the surefire number one overall pick.
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