Tom Allen Will 'Do Great Things at Penn State,' Michael Penix Jr. Says

Tom Allen, Penn State's new defensive coordinator, has a framed photo of the iconic play quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made against the Nittany Lions in 2020 while the two were at Indiana. They've since gone in different directions, but the bond remains. And before Washington takes on Michigan in Monday night's College Football Playoff championship game, Penix reflected on his time with Allen and his former coach's future.

"Yeah, he's a great coach. He's a coach that it's easy to love him because of the guy he is, the person he is," Penix said. "I feel like he cares about his players. He cares about the person more than the player. I feel like he's a guy that will definitely do great things at Penn State."

Speaking at CFP National Championship media day in Houston, Penix discussed his four years with Allen at Indiana, where he was a two-time team captain and went 12-5 as the starting quarterback. Among Penix's most memorable wins was that 2020 game against Penn State, in which Penix dived for the end-zone pylon to score a game-winning 2-point conversion. Allen said recently that he absolutely believes Penix scored on the disputed play.

Penn State games played a huge role in Penix's career at Indiana. Penix played in three games in 2018, the last against Penn State because of a knee injury. That 2020 overtime win launched Penix into the national spotlight, and Allen was named the AFCA coach of the year. 

In 2021, Penix played another career-changing game against the Nittany Lions. The quarterback absorbed a huge hit from Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith, sustaining a shoulder injury that ended his season. It was the latest in a series of injuries at Indiana, leading Penix to the transfer portal. He chose Washington to reunite with head coach Kalen DeBoer, his former offensive coordinator at Indiana.

"Those times were tough, but it just showed that I can get through anything," Penix said at CFP media day. "I can persevere and push through any hardship that comes my way. I just continue to lean on my faith and trust that God has a plan for me. And that's what it was all about, just trusting in God. 

"That's what led me to being here today, just that trust and just understanding that it's a bigger plan for me that I might not know or that I might not see right now. But I'm just super blessed to be in this position now. I wouldn't change anything I've been through for anything. I feel like it's shaped me into the player and the person that I am today. I'm super blessed."

Further, Penix said that Penn State should be pleased to have Allen on its staff.

"He's going to bring great leadership," Penix said. "He's going to bring great energy, intensity each and every day. He was always the same guy every day and always had that same energy, same spark, trying to help the team be better in any way that he could. I feel like they're definitely getting a good coach."