Husky fans got an early Christmas present tonight when QB Michael Penix Jr. announced on Instagram and at the UW Football Banquet that he will be returning to UW for the 2023 season. The former Indiana QB joined UW last offseason to reunite with his former Indiana OC, 1st-year UW head coach Kalen DeBoer. In his first season at Montlake, Penix led the team to a 10-2 season in which he notched wins over then-No. 11 at Michigan State, Oregon and Washington State, led the country in passing yards and became a Heisman contender.
After struggling with injuries throughout his Indiana career, Penix was thought to enter the NFL draft despite remaining eligible. However, after ending the season on the doorstep of the Pac-12 championship and an NY6 bowl court, and having many of the team’s key players eligible to play through the next season, Penix decided to return. Next season’s QB situation would have been a big question mark had Penix left for the draft, and his return will likely feed into many other offensive players’ NFL decisions over the next few months.
Regardless of other upcoming NFL player choices, the return of Penix is a huge win for this program.