Indiana University Athletics
In Penix IU Trusts – Redshirt Freshman Named Starting Quarterback
8/27/2019 3:30:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Michael Penix Jr. didn't blink.
Torn ACL?
He overcame it.
Facing a returning starter with far more experience?
He battled through it.
Competing against a four-star transfer out of Utah with a big-time arm?
He handled it.
So here was Penix, a redshirt freshman facing the college football spotlight as never before, the winner in the fierce quarterback competition with returning starter Peyton Ramsey (16 career starts, 4,127 passing yards, 29 touchdown passes) and transfer Jack Tuttle.
"I'm very excited," Penix said during Monday's press conference. "It was a hard process, every day competing. Peyton and Jack gave me a run. I always had to be sure I was on my toes and make sure I competed at the highest level."
Penix did, even when an unexpected sack in the last live scrimmage saw him get up limping, but not conceding, after his surgically repaired knee got its first big test.
"At first it was rough, coming off the first injury in my life," Penix said about his post-surgery work. "People were in my ear pushing me, and I overcame it."
By last week, head coach Tom Allen had seen enough to make the decision. His message to Penix was clear:
"He said just lead the team," Penix said. "Make sure the team trusts and believes in you. That's what you need in the starting quarterback."
Last season, Penix played in three games before hurting his knee against Penn State. He showed potential with a strong arm and elusive running that fit Allen's quarterback preference, throwing for 219 yards and a touchdown, running for 45 yards on seven carries. He threw for 94 yards and ran for 24 against Penn State.
"He played well in the first game against FIU, played well against Ball State, played really well against Penn State before the injury," Allen said. "We had a body of work to look at in games, because that's sometimes hard to tell in practice."
August camp convinced Allen that Penix was physically and mentally ready to lead the Hoosiers, starting with Saturday's season opener against Ball State at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium.
"To me it was about him coming back and seeing where we felt like the best direction of our program is, once you go through those practices," Allen said. "I'm telling you, it was not an easy decision. It was a lot of discussions and a lot of going back and forth. But you've got to follow your gut, follow your heart and don't look back."
Allen added this was not a game by game decision. Penix is the starter, period.
"It means a lot," Penix said. "It shows (the coaches) trust me.
"I put in the work, as well as Peyton and Jack. It was a blessing to come out on top. I have to continue to put in the work. I can't stop because I know those guys will keep pushing to get that spot."
Allen said his decision -- and it was his decision although he got input from offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer -- wasn't about what Ramsey didn't do as much as what Penix could do.
"It was more of what I believe Mike can be," Allen said.
Specifically, Penix seemed the best quarterback to produce the big plays IU will strive for this season. It won't come, Allen said, from just a big arm and fast legs.
"Those are two pretty obvious things that can create (big plays)," Allen said. "But to me, it's not about throwing the ball 60 yards down field. You create separation for an underneath route by ball placement and velocity to get (a receiver) in position to run after he catches it. That to me are the variables that (Penix) brings to the table. That's where he's just got to execute the offense.
"Those are some of his strengths, and that's what we expect to see."
*****
Allen pushes every motivational button he can, including the word of the week.
For the season opener, it's "Prove."
"We've got a whole lot to prove," Allen said. "That goes for the whole season.
"We've got a chip on our shoulders. We haven't played for several months, and the last time we did, it wasn't what we wanted (an Oaken Bucket loss to Purdue). So we've had a long time to let this fester and let our guys really work hard to create change in this program, both recruiting and player development. Now we get a chance to prove it on the field. That's why I'm so excited about Saturday."
******
Allen pushed relentless competition during fall camp, including that between the offense and the defense.
Coaches would put the ball on the 25-yard line. If the offense scored a touchdown, it won. If the defense held for a field goal or no points, it won.
Competitions were set up for first down, third down and the two-minute drill.
It was all designed to steel the Hoosiers for what they'll face in the fourth quarter of close games, which if the last two seasons are any indication (7 losses by 8-or-fewer points), will happen a lot.
"I'm telling you every day it came down to the wire on who would win that competition for the day," Allen said. "And oftentimes it would come down to the last rep.
"I'd have to go back and look (at the film) to be accurate, but it was so balanced, back and forth, which is good to see."
*****
IU seeks its third-straight win over Ball State. It won 38-10 last season and 30-20 in 2016, both at Memorial Stadium.
The Hoosiers return 20 starters, nine on offense, nine on defense and two on special teams from a 5-7 team.
Ball State also returns 20 starters, eight on offense, nine on defense and three on special teams from a 4-8 team.
Allen is well aware of the Cardinals' potential.
"All you have to do is put the film on them and see how hard they play against us," he says. "Whatever their best shot is, we're going to get it.
"They went up to Notre Dame last year (in the season opener) and darn near beat them. We've got to come ready to play our best football."
A big key will come when IU's defensive line faces Ball State's veteran offensive line. The Hoosiers, led by veterans Gavin Everett, Jerome Johnson and Allen Stallings IV, have worked a lot of young guys into the rotation to prepare.
"It'll be a challenge," Allen says. "We got a lot of young guys, new faces and new opportunities, but where the game is won and lost is up front. So that's going to be a key thing to focus on. We have to prove that our D-line is what they need to be."
*****
The Hoosiers arrive in good overall health, although cornerback Reese Taylor is uncertain for Saturday with a hand injury.
"We went hard and tried to balance it all out (in fall camp)," Allen says. "Reese is the only one who's day to day. He'll practice all week, so we'll see where he's at.
"Other than that, so far so good. Credit to our strength staff and training staff for doing a great job when guys did get nicked up, getting them back and prepared."
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