Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. has had the best season of his career in 2023, leading his team to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
The lefty has been one of the most consistent and accurate quarterbacks in college football, and his rise to being a top prospect comes after a difficult start to his career. With so much hype around him, is Penix draft-eligible, and could he be an early-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft?
When Can Michael Penix Jr. Declare for the NFL Draft?
Like all seniors, Penix can declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. As a sixth-year senior, he has exhausted his eligibility for college football.
The NFL Draft-eligibility rules state that players must have been out of high school for three seasons before they are eligible to enter the draft. Penix has played six seasons of college football and has now used up his entire eligibility.
Players are entitled to five years of college eligibility, but it can be extended under special dispensation from the NCAA. For Penix to be in his sixth year, he used the rule applied by the NCAA that allows all players in college football an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortening seasons.
Now that he has used up all of his eligibility, Penix has no choice but to turn pro. Thankfully, Penix has had a productive career, which should see him drafted highly. The one thing holding him back is his medical history, which will need to be thoroughly investigated by NFL teams.
Penix’s injury history started at Indiana in 2018, where he played four seasons as a Hoosier before transferring to Washington ahead of the 2022 season.
While the quarterback always showed promise at Indiana, his time in Bloomington was marred by serious injuries. Each of his four seasons as a Hoosier ended prematurely due to season-ending injuries, including two torn ACLs and two dislocated joints.
MORE: Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
Before the 2022 season, Penix entered the transfer portal, hoping a change in scenery could reignite his football career. Penix found a new home in Washington where his potential has been more than realized.
An unbelievable season followed, where Penix threw for 4,641 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Penix’s ascendancy as one of the top quarterbacks in college football hit new heights in 2023 as he led Washington to the Pac-12 title and a place in the National Championship Game.
His stats in 2023 top those from 2022, with 4,648 yards and 35 touchdowns before he plays his final CFB game. The fantastic season saw him named as a finalist for the 2023 Heisman Trophy.
If his medicals check out, Penix will be viewed as one of the top quarterbacks available in the 2024 NFL Draft. He should be viewed as having significant early-round potential.
Here is our scouting report of Penix, explaining why the tape shows him to be an exciting prospect.