USA TODAY Sports

Florida Community Honors Michael Penix Jr. By Naming Street After Him

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Petry | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 12:54 PM ET

Small-town hero Michael Penix Jr. is honored by having a street named after him in Florida.

Michael Penix is considered a local legend from Dade City, Florida. A small-town athlete who has since made it to the top of his game in the NFL as a starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.

A new street sign went up, titled “Michael Penix Jr. Blvd.” Dade City, Florida, is where Penix Jr. would start his football career as a youth player in the historic community. Before Penix Jr. set records at the University of Washington, local lore had it that he was tossing around the football with a cannon on his left arm as a toddler.

Penix Jr would start his career at the University of Indiana before transferring to play for the Washington Huskies. Ascending to a Heisman candidate at Washington, he would grab the attention of the Atlanta Falcons, who would draft him with the 8th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Now, he has been handed the keys to the franchise in Atlanta by being named the starter after Kirk Cousins was benched with three weeks remaining last season. All of the hard work that Penix Jr. has put into getting to this point has paid off, paving the way for other small community athletes to realize their guiding light in sports.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, which included city officials, town residents, and even representatives from the City Hall of Georgia. Penix Jr. has solidified himself from "Little Mike" in the community to a local legend.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: