He may have been a finalist for the Heisman Trophy or led Washington to a Sugar Bowl triumph over the Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Others see things differently, such as him collapsing in the third quarter of Indiana’s loss to Penn State in 2021, confirming his fourth significant collegiate injury in as many seasons
Penix’s voyage to Flowery Branch has not been without bumps and bruises.
The Tampa, Fla. native tore his left ACL three games into his true freshman year in 2018. He re-torn the same ACL in 2020. In between, he dislocated the SC joint in his right (non-throwing) shoulder. In 2021, he dislocated a joint in his throwing shoulder after only five games.
Every injury ended his season. He left Indiana following the 2021 season, never playing more than seven games in a single year.
Penix found consistency at Washington, starting all 28 games over two seasons and demonstrating his ability to hold up over the course of a long season.
During the pre-draft process, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and his staff spent a significant amount of time with Atlanta’s trainers and doctors to investigate Penix’s injury history.
The Falcons selected Penix No. 8 overall because to his on-field skill set and confidence that his injury issues are resolved.
“It does mean a lot that he’s played well these last two years,” Fontenot told ESPN. “Obviously, it’s something we’re always forward-thinking on in terms of doing everything we can to prevent injuries but we felt good about it.”
Furthermore, Atlanta’s braintrust discovered encouraging facts about Penix’s injuries.
Fontenot and Falcons coach Raheem Morris praised Penix’s resilience after he led the FBS with 4,903 throwing yards and 36 touchdowns this season.
Morris contrasted Penix’s career to his own, which included getting dismissed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011 after a dismal tenure as a rookie head coach and finishing 4-7 as Atlanta’s interim head coach in 2020.
Penix shares commonalities with the two veterans now sitting in Atlanta’s quarterbacks room, Kirk Cousins and Taylor Heinicke.
Cousins’ toughest obstacle early in his career was finding the field, as he was Robert Gryphon III’s backup with the now-Washington Commanders and started only nine games in his first three seasons.
Heinicke began his career on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad and spent time away from football in 2020, preparing for the next part of his life.
Now that they’re all together, Morris says it emphasises the room’s makeup.
“There’s something about people that can go through adversity, there is something about people who can handle adversity, and there is something about people who can literally bounce back from all different types of walks of life and be here,” said Morris.
Penix is concerned about injuries. Another factor to consider is age.
The 6-2,216-pound lefty turns 24 on May 8, making him an older prospect. This is only exacerbated by the presence of Cousins, who is guaranteed $90 million for the next two years and has a chance to remain Atlanta’s starting signal caller until 2027.
Penix will most likely not play until he is 26 or 27 years old. Modern quarterbacks are starting late in their careers, but this is not what most people expect from top-10 picks.
However, Fontenot believes Penix is not abnormal. Fontenot believes that because to the NCAA’s decision to provide athletes an extra year of eligibility owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial attractiveness of NIL, more players are staying in college for longer periods of time, generating older prospects.
Penix was not alone in the opening round. The Commanders chose Jayden Daniels second overall, and he will turn 24 in December. The Denver Broncos selected Bo Nix at No. 12, and he is already 24 years old.
Fontenot is not concerned about Penix’s age, both now and in the future.
“That’s not an issue,” Fontenot replied. “We are quite confident in him. And look at how he plays the game; we’re pretty happy with it. Not concerned about his age in a negative way.”
The Falcons believe it’s a good thing if Penix doesn’t play until he’s considerably older, because it signifies Cousins’ time under centre is likely going well.
“If he sits for four or five years, that’s a great problem to have because we’re doing so well in that position,” Fontenot remarked during his post-draft press conference.
However, when it comes time for Penix to hit the pitch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Falcons are convinced he will be prepared, thanks in part to the mental and physical demands that come with the role.
“I’ve been through a lot throughout my career,” stated Penix. “But I feel like all of the adversity has made me harder and stronger. Everything I’ve gone through has shaped me into the person and player I am today. So I wouldn’t say I’ll make any changes.”