Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix were rivals in college as Washington and Oregon were the top two teams in the Pac-12 this past season.
However, the two also share a mutual respect and friendship as they prepare to take their talents to the NFL.
Michael Penix Jr. spoke with the NFL Network on Tuesday about Bo Nix and what he is like as a player and person.
“Yea man, Bo is an incredible guy,” Penix said. “He comes out here, works extremely hard, on the field, off the field, he’s a man of principles and morals. He comes out here and works. We’ve been having a good connection.”
Penix and Nix took similar paths to college stardom. Penix started out at Indiana, before having an incredibly successful career at Washington. Nix began his college career at Auburn, before transferring to Oregon and becoming one of the top quarterbacks in the country.
Both quarterbacks were also finalists for the Heisman this past season and could be picked in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
“I know the Oregon and Washington thing, you wouldn’t expect two of us to be close,” Penix said. “But he’s a good guy, man. A good athlete, as well. So I’m glad to be around him and glad to be able to work with him this week.”
Michael Penix Jr. looks back on the journey of his college football career
Michael Penix Jr. had an incredible college career, capping it off by leading Washington to the national championship game.
It was a bittersweet ending for Penix and the Huskies. The highs of the Sugar Bowl win but the sting of the national championship loss to Michigan.
He overcame a lot to become one of the best quarterbacks in the game and can now take it to the next level. He spoke about his college career after falling to Michigan.
“In my career, it was a lot,” Penix said. “I feel like everything happened for a reason. Everybody knows my story. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve had ups and downs. But I’m thankful for it all. I’m super blessed. Obviously, to me, Coach DeBoer, at Indiana, to lead me here, to be playing for the biggest game in college football, but obviously it didn’t come out how we wanted it to. But I know each player on this team, they gave it their all, and it wasn’t enough today.”
Like the leader he is, Penix Jr. put the lack of offense on him. He was dominant pretty much all year, but the Huskies couldn’t get anything going against Michigan.
“And for me, I’m going to take accountability for the offensive side of the ball,” Penix said. “I feel like we could have did better. Too many penalties. And we had a lot of offsides. And I’m going to put that on me because I’ve got to be louder.”
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