Former SEC star quarterback set to succeed Michael Penix Jr. at Washington

Former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers committed to Washington for his final collegiate season, becoming the likely successor to 2023 Heisman finalist Michael Penix Jr. in Seattle.

On Friday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Rogers, who has 12,315 passing yards from 2020-23 with the Bulldogs, chose the Huskies partly because of the offensive system. Penix Jr. led the country with 4,218 passing yards and can add to that total with potentially two games remaining on the Huskies schedule.

CFP No. 2 Washington (13-0, 10-0 in Pac-12) plays No. 3 Texas (12-1, 9-1 in Big 12) in the Sugar Bowl for a spot in the national championship game. 

Per ESPN, Rogers also cited former Bulldogs running back Dillon Johnson's success with the Huskies this season after transferring from Mississippi State as a reason he chose Washington.

"Him going there and having some success was eye-opening for a lot of people," he said. This season, Johnson has 1,113 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.

Penix Jr.'s growth in two seasons in Seattle after a promising four-year run at Indiana probably made the decision easy for Rogers, too.

From 2018-21 with the Hoosiers, Penix Jr. had 4,197 passing yards, 21 yards less than he had this season. 

By adding Rogers, Washington softens the blow from losing its 2023 Heisman runner-up next season. Instead of having to rebuild once Penix Jr. leaves, the Huskies should be a contender for the expanded playoff.