December 22, 2025 • 17 mins
Huskies legend and current Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr joins Dave Softy Mahler and Hugh Millen to talk about his time on Montlake and good memories, his latest injury in Atlanta, Kirk Cousins as a veteran leader, the changes from college to NFL level ball, feelings about Kalen DeBoer now with Alabama, and Indiana vs Bama.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's get to a guy that many people would argue
is the goat of all time of Washington quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Pennix, out of the shotgun, takes the snap, he looks,
he throws.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
It's cut by Quint More. Touchdown Washington. The Huskies take
the nine point lead.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Heennix takes a snap, looking to throw. He's gonna fire, and.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
It's cut by Roman Judy. Unbelievable. A fastball.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Nnix takes a shotgun step, he drops back to pass
in the pocket.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
He's gonna launch it down.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The field for Jalen Polk, who catches at the twenty
yard line. Snap Pennix to throw, goes for the end
zone off the left sideline, grow about to side, touchdown
Washington forward stowed up out of the scoreboard.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
A Heisman moment for Michael Pennix. It's never ever gonna
get old.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Is it humilling here in those highlights Magic ever from
two thousand three?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, yeah, Well, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
The architect of all that is joining us now on
the radio show. It's been a minute, it's been a minute,
but he's back on the air with us. One of
the all time greats, if not the greatest. Second place
in the Heisman Trophy in twenty twenty three, twenty five
and three at DUB three and zero against the Oregon
Ducks and maybe the greatest of all time. Our old
(01:19):
friend Michael Pennix joining us right now on the radio program, Mike, how.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Are you man? It's softy and here. What's going on?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
How you doing? I'm doing great. Excited to be on
the show with you guys.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Oh god, it's great to have you back on the show.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Man.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
When you hear those highlights, by the way, what goes
through your mind thinking about all those great moments in
that twenty twenty three season. Was there one highlight, one
favorite moment for you honestly during that year that stands out?
Speaker 5 (01:48):
I definitely say the favorite moment was obviously being Oregon.
You know, that's always that's always one of the best moments.
And then obviously with the fans storm of the field
is awesome. But you know, just hearing stuff, it just
brings back a lot of memories and uh, and it's
it's super excited to to be able to be a
part of that. And I'm just blessed to be a
part of.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
Mike has Hugh and and I really enjoyed our conversation
at that u w QB event for the spring game,
uh last spring, but uh, you know it, while you're
we're playing those highlights, I'm reminded during that time there
was a lot of Husky fans that had questions about
your injury status.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Uh you know you're over you know, in.
Speaker 6 (02:30):
That that booth and and uh just kind of some
of the way you had to maybe conceal some uh
some injuries.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
My senior year.
Speaker 6 (02:39):
At Washington, I had a sc external clovicular separation that
I had to play with for.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
About seven games.
Speaker 6 (02:45):
I mean, we all kind of have to do that
at the position, right, But but but now we can
come clean, right, It's it's well passed the limitation, right, Like,
like just tell us all so we can just like exhale.
What what if anything was happening with you health wise?
What were you battling during the end of that twenty
(03:05):
twenty three season.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
I wasn't really battling anything health wise, you know, I
just feel like it was just a tough stress of
the season. But I know at the same time, you
know everybody, everybody's going through it. You know, you get
the you know, the sickness that go around, you know,
late in the season, but that that all comes with it.
So it's it's no excuses to you know what what
went down.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
But at the end of the day, it.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Was just you know, obviously being it was excited to
be able to pull off all those wins and doing
what we did. Obviously I couldn't do it out you know,
the rest of the guys. So it's it's something it's
something that's really nothing, you know, It's it's just it
wasn't really good football being played at that time, but
we did enough to win.
Speaker 6 (03:46):
Right and you know, we we have such amazing memories
of that Texas game and and what you were able
to accomplish through the air and what have you. Now
that you've had a couple of years to kind of
have a reflection about it, do you do you revel
more in the Texas game? Where or how much does
the Michigan game just stick in your craw Like, like,
(04:07):
where are you with that? You mentioned Oregon, but what
about those last couple of games in the CFP, you know,
just battling right there with a chance to win that title.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
Yeah, I mean first and foremost, you know, it was
it was just great to be able to be in
that position.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
You know. I feel like at the beginning of the season.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
Around camp time and I said that, you know it
to a win national championship. I feel like that, you know,
not not too many people believe that, you know, across
the world. So it's for us to even be in
a position to you know, have a chance at doing
that and obviously going undefeated in the regular season and
you know, winning our first playoff game, you.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Know, it was Yeah, Mike Pennick says with us and Mike,
before we move on to some stuff around the NFL,
let me just go back to those to those days
that you do Ian. You mentioned the Oregon win, Man,
when you look back on it seven and oh against
Oregon Wazoo in Oregon State three and oh against the
Orgon Docs. I don't know how many Oregon teammates you
have right now with you on the Falcons down there,
(05:05):
But honestly, how proud are you of that that, no
matter what you do in your life and your career,
you can honestly go to bed every night saying you
never lost to Oregon.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Man, that makes me, it's super excited, because it's crazy
because the first thing I heard whenever I stop up
on campus was like, we do not lose to Oregon,
We do not lose to Wazoo.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Like these are the two teams that we hate.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
We want to go out there and you know, beat
them every single time we played. So for us to
be able to do that and for me to be
able to say that for the rest of my life,
like those two years, I haven't lost to them teams,
you know, it's definitely awesome.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
Michael Pennick's with us and Mike, let's let's transition to
your days now as a Falcon and so many of
us are our heart Just you know, what was extended
to you when we heard about the injury. Obviously you
have already been a model for perseverance that having come
back from two acls and shoulder injuries to have that
(06:00):
or where you were second in the Heisman, But what
was this latest injury like for you just kind of
mentally just take us through the process of being an
NFL quarterback and sustaining that injury, particularly in light of
the injuries you've had in your past.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
Yeah, So it was this crazy because you know, obviously
with my past and you know, it's kind of happening again.
You know, it's it's crazy, but at the same time
kind of look at it, and you know, I just
try to take it into positive light and you know,
just trying to figure out what is it that you know,
I feel like God is, you know, trying to show
me something, and you know, I just got to con
see to trust to him and trusting his plan, and
(06:39):
you know, whatever happens to me, you know, I know that.
You know, I've been through through this before. I've been
in these times before, and I always came back stronger,
so I definitely looked forward to coming back stronger from it.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Well, I gotta tell you, man, nobody wants to see
any of this stuff happen to you because all of
us are pulling for your hardcore, right. I mean, it's
one thing to root for a guy in school, but
everybody is pulling for you hardcore in the NFL as well.
And I don't know what we did as dog fans,
Mike to deserve you being healthy for the two years
that you were here at Washington. I mean, it's it's
just unbelievable how those are the two years of your
(07:11):
career that you were able to stay healthy. But like,
what's the reaction been like, talk talk to us about
Kirk Cousins. For example, right, you show up and you
compete for the job, and obviously he just signed a
brand new contract and there's all that conversation. What's what's
Kirk been like as a teammate and a friend and
a mentor to you behind the scenes, especially now that
(07:31):
you're dealing with another knee injury.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Yeah, for sure, he's been awesome, you know, since day one.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
You know, he's always be able to answer any questions
I had, and he was He's also open, open guy
as well. You know, he's a guy that you know,
he's like he asked me like sometime, hey, did you
see anything there? You know, in certain plays, And obviously
I'll do the same same with him, you know, because
I feel like we built a good connection and you know,
it's it's all love in a quarterback room. And I'm
(07:57):
just super blessed to be a part of us. Has
to be able to be behind him last year and
just you know, just kind of learned and you know,
just see how he carries hisself, see how he leads
a team, and it was awesome to see and it's
awesome to be a part of. But he's been great
and ever since my injury, he did reach out and
you know, just checked in on me, and you know,
he also sent me some stuff as well, so he's
(08:18):
been great.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
I'm curious as a guy who's either played or observed
the position quarterback for a long time now fifty plus years,
it strikes me how difficult it is, as evidenced by how.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Few people can do it really, really well.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
You did it at the highest level in college, You've
had a number of opportunities where you've played, you know,
near that level in the pros. What is the biggest
change from college football to playing professional football at that position.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
I'll say the biggest thing, you know is, you know,
at the end of the day, you know, it's still football.
You know, I feel like, you know, you hear everybody
say like everything is moving faster and stuff like that,
and yeah, it does feel like that when you first
get in. But you know, as you get those reps
and you continue to build those reps and build that confidence,
you know, you get to it and you know, I
feel like I'm comfortable and I got used to it.
(09:17):
But it's definitely a different process, And obviously, I feel
like the biggest thing is the off season. You know,
it's like not even in season when we're throwing and stuff,
but the off season it's like you're on your own.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
You know.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
In college, you got that schedule, it's like, Okay, you're
still you got runs this day at this time.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Like now it's like you have to do that yourself.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
You have to go find somewhere to train and somebody
to train with, and you got to do it all yourself.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
So I feel like that's the biggest difference.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Yeah, was there kind of an AHA moment for you
in the NFL? I mean, my my AHA moment for you?
What you dub by the way I tell you exactly
the game it was. It was when you hammered Michigan,
stayed at home in your first year at you dub
and here comes this kid from Indiana, nobody knows a
lot about them, and then you show up heer and
just slice up the Spartans at Husky Stadium. We're all going, man,
(10:04):
we might have something pretty good freaking legiti here.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
On our hands.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
So that was kind of my AHA moment for you
with you Dubb. Was there one of those moments for
you so far in the NFL, or you really said
to yourself and you felt like, you know what, no problem,
I can do this.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I got this.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Yeah, I would say it was just one moment, but
I definitely feel like, you know, there's different moments that
build up to you know, that confidence, Like like I say,
you know, just those reps and you know, each and
every day just seeing myself like get better. It's like, Okay,
I did I made a mistake this day and the
next day I'm I'm correcting it and I'm making the
completion where I need to go, and you know, so
I feel like there's more of a build up.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
It never had. It was never like oh I got
it like right away. It was like each and every
day I felt like I was getting better and better.
Speaker 6 (10:49):
Well, unfortunately you got a little bit more time than
you would otherwise have. You know, as you're getting through
this injury, which gives you some time to watch the
college football playoff? Are you a fan in that regard?
And specifically, I know we're gonna ask you about Indiana
or your Hoosiers and being the number one seed, but
I want to ask you about Kaylen de Boor and
(11:12):
you know, just how you feel about him at Alabama?
What was your reaction. I'm not sure if you've ever
been asked that on the record. You know, when when
you left Kaylen left and uh and now he's uh,
you know, he's the head of Role Tide and and
do you find yourself you root for him? Like just
kind of what what about that? And and how you
feel about Alabama in this tournament?
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Yeah, for sure. I'm I'm definitely a big coach to
boors fan. You know, I feel like wherever he goes,
whatever team he's leading, I'm a big fan of him.
You know, the person and the man that he is.
You know, I feel like he gave me opportunity. You know,
whenever I came to you. You know, we only spent
one year together and at Indiana and it was an
(11:56):
awesome year, but you know, he we didn't really have
a strong connection like that. But for him to be
able to give me opportunity and believing in me and
you know, believing in my abilities even after I came
off of multiple season and injuries, it was just it's
just somebody that I can't forever, you know, have love
for and you know, appreciate for for that, So I'll
definitely yeah coach a divorce fan.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yeah, I'd say you guys are pretty beneficial to each other.
There's no doubt the impact that you had on him
and vice versa was obvious. But it's interesting, like hearing
you talk like that, Michael Pennock's with us that when
you had the one year together at Indiana that you
weren't really that tight, and then all of a sudden
he's calling you to see if you'll transfer to Washington
to play for him as his head as his head coach.
(12:39):
So what was it about that that made sense? And
I got to ask you. I've always wanted to ask
you this, and now we got a chance to ask you.
If it wasn't for Washington, who was your number two
choice behind you dub if you were to transfer out
of Indiana.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (12:54):
So, uh, I said my number two choice. I didn't
really have a number two choice. You know, it's crazy
because I only visited, but I only visited two teams.
So I actually visited u CF and on my visit
to u CF coach the board. Uh no, not on
my visit, but like after my visit from u CF,
I was able to you know, get up to you Dub.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
So I actually left from UCF and went up to
U Dub.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
And you know, once I once I got up to
you Dub, I watched all the you know tape on
the guys that that that was already there, you know,
all the receivers and stuff, and you know, I was like, oh, yeah,
these these are some really talented guys.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
And officin line was great, so I was like it
made sense.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
And then obviously knowing the offense and you know, just
I felt very confident Coach the Boy and his play calling.
And obviously I didn't know Coach Grub at that time,
but that's when I met Coach Grub, and Coach the
Boy was like I trust him, Like he's gonna call
the plays and you know, I'm gonna love it, and
you know, I trusted in those guys.
Speaker 6 (13:51):
In these days, it seems like there's more Heisman Trophy
winners all Americans at the quarterback position who transferred U
than who didn't. I mean, Mendoza wins the Heisman. He
was a transfer bo Nicks, all right, right, So in
that situation, uh, does the does the head coach do
they tell you like, hey, you come here you're the
(14:13):
starter automatically or do they say, hey, we think you'll
be the starter, Like, like, what's the communication with respect
to that.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
No, So when I talked to Coach the Boy, it
was obviously Deli Morris. He was the starting.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
Quarterback there the previous year, and you know you had
Sam as well. He were in obviously you know, he
was a very very good quarterback coming out of high school.
So whenever I got there, like before I even signed
a committee, you know, Coach the Boy told me, he's like,
you're gonna have to compete for the job.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
You know, it's nothing was gonna be given. So each
and every day it was a competition.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
We you know, they kept track of each and every throw,
kept track of our completion percentages, our turnovers and stuff
like that, and you know they made that decision at
the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Well, Michael Penick's well us and Mike when they got
to run to dinner out there and Atlanta. Man, it's
great to hear your voice and hope we can catch
you up more often. Man, But I got to ask
you before you go, have you had a chance to
watch Demand Williams play at all? And if so, what
do you make of his game, Have you had a
chance to speak with demand at all, and and kind
(15:16):
of be a mentor to him, because there's a club,
right there's a next Husky club that you and Hugh
right here are obviously a part of, and Demon is
next in line in that club. So what's your take
on number two at Washington and have you had a
chance to get to know him at all?
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Yeah, man, I'm very high on him.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
I feel like he's a very good quarterback and the
things that he can do, you know, not you know,
obviously in the pocket, but you know, you see the
things that he could do outside of the pocket as well.
But I do feel like he has a very good
arm and you know, he has some weapons around on
this year, those guys are making a lot of plays.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
So it's definitely awesome to see you.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
I'm definitely a big fan of him, and I reached
out to him a couple of times after the games
and stuff, you know, just now, you know, just congratulate him.
But we haven't had, you know, too much of a relationship,
but I definitely root for him. And you know, whoever,
whoever's back to quarterback or any position with the Huskies.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
And one more as we let you go. Mike's been
great to visit with you. Who are you rooting for
in the Rose Bowl? Alabama or Indiana?
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Wow, I'm just I'm just rooting for football. I don't
got no choice.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
How about this? How about this? Let me rephrase it.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
If Indiana wins and they play Oregon in the semi final,
who do you pull for in that game?
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Anybody but Oregon?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
I love it? I love it? All right, Mike, you're
the man. Thanks for doing this, buddy, Enjoy the rest
of your night. Good luck with the rehab. Can't wait
to see you back on the field, and we'll talk soon.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Man, all right, thank you.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
You got it, Michael Pennox with us anybody but Oregon?
I love it.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
The guy was here for two years, and it took
him two years to realize how much you're supposed to
hate the Oregon Ducks. It didn't take him two years.
I took him about a month and a half. By
the way, when he first showed up. You're right, all
right here, let's do this. We'll get a break. Sharon
Thorsland's the sideline reporter for the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Next up for the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
They're fighting for the NFC South Championship by the way
down there, and Charlotte, we'll talk to her. Rich Gannon,
the two thousand and two NFL MVP. He's gonna join
us at five. We got to talk about the big
news involving DK metcalf Man as well. Coming up on
a busy Monday with Softy and Hugh and Jackson right
here on ninety three three KJRFM
Let's get to a guy that many people would argue
is the goat of all time of Washington quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Pennix, out of the shotgun, takes the snap, he looks,
he throws.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
It's cut by Quint More. Touchdown Washington. The Huskies take
the nine point lead.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Heennix takes a snap, looking to throw. He's gonna fire, and.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
It's cut by Roman Judy. Unbelievable. A fastball.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Nnix takes a shotgun step, he drops back to pass
in the pocket.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
He's gonna launch it down.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The field for Jalen Polk, who catches at the twenty
yard line. Snap Pennix to throw, goes for the end
zone off the left sideline, grow about to side, touchdown
Washington forward stowed up out of the scoreboard.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
A Heisman moment for Michael Pennix. It's never ever gonna
get old.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Is it humilling here in those highlights Magic ever from
two thousand three?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, yeah, Well, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
The architect of all that is joining us now on
the radio show. It's been a minute, it's been a minute,
but he's back on the air with us. One of
the all time greats, if not the greatest. Second place
in the Heisman Trophy in twenty twenty three, twenty five
and three at DUB three and zero against the Oregon
Ducks and maybe the greatest of all time. Our old
(01:19):
friend Michael Pennix joining us right now on the radio program, Mike, how.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Are you man? It's softy and here. What's going on?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
How you doing? I'm doing great. Excited to be on
the show with you guys.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Oh god, it's great to have you back on the show.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Man.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
When you hear those highlights, by the way, what goes
through your mind thinking about all those great moments in
that twenty twenty three season. Was there one highlight, one
favorite moment for you honestly during that year that stands out?
Speaker 5 (01:48):
I definitely say the favorite moment was obviously being Oregon.
You know, that's always that's always one of the best moments.
And then obviously with the fans storm of the field
is awesome. But you know, just hearing stuff, it just
brings back a lot of memories and uh, and it's
it's super excited to to be able to be a
part of that. And I'm just blessed to be a
part of.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
Mike has Hugh and and I really enjoyed our conversation
at that u w QB event for the spring game,
uh last spring, but uh, you know it, while you're
we're playing those highlights, I'm reminded during that time there
was a lot of Husky fans that had questions about
your injury status.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Uh you know you're over you know, in.
Speaker 6 (02:30):
That that booth and and uh just kind of some
of the way you had to maybe conceal some uh
some injuries.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
My senior year.
Speaker 6 (02:39):
At Washington, I had a sc external clovicular separation that
I had to play with for.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
About seven games.
Speaker 6 (02:45):
I mean, we all kind of have to do that
at the position, right, But but but now we can
come clean, right, It's it's well passed the limitation, right, Like,
like just tell us all so we can just like exhale.
What what if anything was happening with you health wise?
What were you battling during the end of that twenty
(03:05):
twenty three season.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
I wasn't really battling anything health wise, you know, I
just feel like it was just a tough stress of
the season. But I know at the same time, you
know everybody, everybody's going through it. You know, you get
the you know, the sickness that go around, you know,
late in the season, but that that all comes with it.
So it's it's no excuses to you know what what
went down.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
But at the end of the day, it.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Was just you know, obviously being it was excited to
be able to pull off all those wins and doing
what we did. Obviously I couldn't do it out you know,
the rest of the guys. So it's it's something it's
something that's really nothing, you know, It's it's just it
wasn't really good football being played at that time, but
we did enough to win.
Speaker 6 (03:46):
Right and you know, we we have such amazing memories
of that Texas game and and what you were able
to accomplish through the air and what have you. Now
that you've had a couple of years to kind of
have a reflection about it, do you do you revel
more in the Texas game? Where or how much does
the Michigan game just stick in your craw Like, like,
(04:07):
where are you with that? You mentioned Oregon, but what
about those last couple of games in the CFP, you know,
just battling right there with a chance to win that title.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
Yeah, I mean first and foremost, you know, it was
it was just great to be able to be in
that position.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
You know. I feel like at the beginning of the season.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
Around camp time and I said that, you know it
to a win national championship. I feel like that, you know,
not not too many people believe that, you know, across
the world. So it's for us to even be in
a position to you know, have a chance at doing
that and obviously going undefeated in the regular season and
you know, winning our first playoff game, you.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Know, it was Yeah, Mike Pennick says with us and Mike,
before we move on to some stuff around the NFL,
let me just go back to those to those days
that you do Ian. You mentioned the Oregon win, Man,
when you look back on it seven and oh against
Oregon Wazoo in Oregon State three and oh against the
Orgon Docs. I don't know how many Oregon teammates you
have right now with you on the Falcons down there,
(05:05):
But honestly, how proud are you of that that, no
matter what you do in your life and your career,
you can honestly go to bed every night saying you
never lost to Oregon.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Man, that makes me, it's super excited, because it's crazy
because the first thing I heard whenever I stop up
on campus was like, we do not lose to Oregon,
We do not lose to Wazoo.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Like these are the two teams that we hate.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
We want to go out there and you know, beat
them every single time we played. So for us to
be able to do that and for me to be
able to say that for the rest of my life,
like those two years, I haven't lost to them teams,
you know, it's definitely awesome.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
Michael Pennick's with us and Mike, let's let's transition to
your days now as a Falcon and so many of
us are our heart Just you know, what was extended
to you when we heard about the injury. Obviously you
have already been a model for perseverance that having come
back from two acls and shoulder injuries to have that
(06:00):
or where you were second in the Heisman, But what
was this latest injury like for you just kind of
mentally just take us through the process of being an
NFL quarterback and sustaining that injury, particularly in light of
the injuries you've had in your past.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
Yeah, So it was this crazy because you know, obviously
with my past and you know, it's kind of happening again.
You know, it's it's crazy, but at the same time
kind of look at it, and you know, I just
try to take it into positive light and you know,
just trying to figure out what is it that you know,
I feel like God is, you know, trying to show
me something, and you know, I just got to con
see to trust to him and trusting his plan, and
(06:39):
you know, whatever happens to me, you know, I know that.
You know, I've been through through this before. I've been
in these times before, and I always came back stronger,
so I definitely looked forward to coming back stronger from it.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Well, I gotta tell you, man, nobody wants to see
any of this stuff happen to you because all of
us are pulling for your hardcore, right. I mean, it's
one thing to root for a guy in school, but
everybody is pulling for you hardcore in the NFL as well.
And I don't know what we did as dog fans,
Mike to deserve you being healthy for the two years
that you were here at Washington. I mean, it's it's
just unbelievable how those are the two years of your
(07:11):
career that you were able to stay healthy. But like,
what's the reaction been like, talk talk to us about
Kirk Cousins. For example, right, you show up and you
compete for the job, and obviously he just signed a
brand new contract and there's all that conversation. What's what's
Kirk been like as a teammate and a friend and
a mentor to you behind the scenes, especially now that
(07:31):
you're dealing with another knee injury.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Yeah, for sure, he's been awesome, you know, since day one.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
You know, he's always be able to answer any questions
I had, and he was He's also open, open guy
as well. You know, he's a guy that you know,
he's like he asked me like sometime, hey, did you
see anything there? You know, in certain plays, And obviously
I'll do the same same with him, you know, because
I feel like we built a good connection and you know,
it's it's all love in a quarterback room. And I'm
(07:57):
just super blessed to be a part of us. Has
to be able to be behind him last year and
just you know, just kind of learned and you know,
just see how he carries hisself, see how he leads
a team, and it was awesome to see and it's
awesome to be a part of. But he's been great
and ever since my injury, he did reach out and
you know, just checked in on me, and you know,
he also sent me some stuff as well, so he's
(08:18):
been great.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
I'm curious as a guy who's either played or observed
the position quarterback for a long time now fifty plus years,
it strikes me how difficult it is, as evidenced by how.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Few people can do it really, really well.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
You did it at the highest level in college, You've
had a number of opportunities where you've played, you know,
near that level in the pros. What is the biggest
change from college football to playing professional football at that position.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
I'll say the biggest thing, you know is, you know,
at the end of the day, you know, it's still football.
You know, I feel like, you know, you hear everybody
say like everything is moving faster and stuff like that,
and yeah, it does feel like that when you first
get in. But you know, as you get those reps
and you continue to build those reps and build that confidence,
you know, you get to it and you know, I
feel like I'm comfortable and I got used to it.
(09:17):
But it's definitely a different process, And obviously, I feel
like the biggest thing is the off season. You know,
it's like not even in season when we're throwing and stuff,
but the off season it's like you're on your own.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
You know.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
In college, you got that schedule, it's like, Okay, you're
still you got runs this day at this time.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Like now it's like you have to do that yourself.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
You have to go find somewhere to train and somebody
to train with, and you got to do it all yourself.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
So I feel like that's the biggest difference.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Yeah, was there kind of an AHA moment for you
in the NFL? I mean, my my AHA moment for you?
What you dub by the way I tell you exactly
the game it was. It was when you hammered Michigan,
stayed at home in your first year at you dub
and here comes this kid from Indiana, nobody knows a
lot about them, and then you show up heer and
just slice up the Spartans at Husky Stadium. We're all going, man,
(10:04):
we might have something pretty good freaking legiti here.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
On our hands.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
So that was kind of my AHA moment for you
with you Dubb. Was there one of those moments for
you so far in the NFL, or you really said
to yourself and you felt like, you know what, no problem,
I can do this.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I got this.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Yeah, I would say it was just one moment, but
I definitely feel like, you know, there's different moments that
build up to you know, that confidence, Like like I say,
you know, just those reps and you know, each and
every day just seeing myself like get better. It's like, Okay,
I did I made a mistake this day and the
next day I'm I'm correcting it and I'm making the
completion where I need to go, and you know, so
I feel like there's more of a build up.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
It never had. It was never like oh I got
it like right away. It was like each and every
day I felt like I was getting better and better.
Speaker 6 (10:49):
Well, unfortunately you got a little bit more time than
you would otherwise have. You know, as you're getting through
this injury, which gives you some time to watch the
college football playoff? Are you a fan in that regard?
And specifically, I know we're gonna ask you about Indiana
or your Hoosiers and being the number one seed, but
I want to ask you about Kaylen de Boor and
(11:12):
you know, just how you feel about him at Alabama?
What was your reaction. I'm not sure if you've ever
been asked that on the record. You know, when when
you left Kaylen left and uh and now he's uh,
you know, he's the head of Role Tide and and
do you find yourself you root for him? Like just
kind of what what about that? And and how you
feel about Alabama in this tournament?
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Yeah, for sure. I'm I'm definitely a big coach to
boors fan. You know, I feel like wherever he goes,
whatever team he's leading, I'm a big fan of him.
You know, the person and the man that he is.
You know, I feel like he gave me opportunity. You know,
whenever I came to you. You know, we only spent
one year together and at Indiana and it was an
(11:56):
awesome year, but you know, he we didn't really have
a strong connection like that. But for him to be
able to give me opportunity and believing in me and
you know, believing in my abilities even after I came
off of multiple season and injuries, it was just it's
just somebody that I can't forever, you know, have love
for and you know, appreciate for for that, So I'll
definitely yeah coach a divorce fan.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yeah, I'd say you guys are pretty beneficial to each other.
There's no doubt the impact that you had on him
and vice versa was obvious. But it's interesting, like hearing
you talk like that, Michael Pennock's with us that when
you had the one year together at Indiana that you
weren't really that tight, and then all of a sudden
he's calling you to see if you'll transfer to Washington
to play for him as his head as his head coach.
(12:39):
So what was it about that that made sense? And
I got to ask you. I've always wanted to ask
you this, and now we got a chance to ask you.
If it wasn't for Washington, who was your number two
choice behind you dub if you were to transfer out
of Indiana.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (12:54):
So, uh, I said my number two choice. I didn't
really have a number two choice. You know, it's crazy
because I only visited, but I only visited two teams.
So I actually visited u CF and on my visit
to u CF coach the board. Uh no, not on
my visit, but like after my visit from u CF,
I was able to you know, get up to you Dub.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
So I actually left from UCF and went up to
U Dub.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
And you know, once I once I got up to
you Dub, I watched all the you know tape on
the guys that that that was already there, you know,
all the receivers and stuff, and you know, I was like, oh, yeah,
these these are some really talented guys.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
And officin line was great, so I was like it
made sense.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
And then obviously knowing the offense and you know, just
I felt very confident Coach the Boy and his play calling.
And obviously I didn't know Coach Grub at that time,
but that's when I met Coach Grub, and Coach the
Boy was like I trust him, Like he's gonna call
the plays and you know, I'm gonna love it, and
you know, I trusted in those guys.
Speaker 6 (13:51):
In these days, it seems like there's more Heisman Trophy
winners all Americans at the quarterback position who transferred U
than who didn't. I mean, Mendoza wins the Heisman. He
was a transfer bo Nicks, all right, right, So in
that situation, uh, does the does the head coach do
they tell you like, hey, you come here you're the
(14:13):
starter automatically or do they say, hey, we think you'll
be the starter, Like, like, what's the communication with respect
to that.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
No, So when I talked to Coach the Boy, it
was obviously Deli Morris. He was the starting.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
Quarterback there the previous year, and you know you had
Sam as well. He were in obviously you know, he
was a very very good quarterback coming out of high school.
So whenever I got there, like before I even signed
a committee, you know, Coach the Boy told me, he's like,
you're gonna have to compete for the job.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
You know, it's nothing was gonna be given. So each
and every day it was a competition.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
We you know, they kept track of each and every throw,
kept track of our completion percentages, our turnovers and stuff
like that, and you know they made that decision at
the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Well, Michael Penick's well us and Mike when they got
to run to dinner out there and Atlanta. Man, it's
great to hear your voice and hope we can catch
you up more often. Man, But I got to ask
you before you go, have you had a chance to
watch Demand Williams play at all? And if so, what
do you make of his game, Have you had a
chance to speak with demand at all, and and kind
(15:16):
of be a mentor to him, because there's a club,
right there's a next Husky club that you and Hugh
right here are obviously a part of, and Demon is
next in line in that club. So what's your take
on number two at Washington and have you had a
chance to get to know him at all?
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Yeah, man, I'm very high on him.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
I feel like he's a very good quarterback and the
things that he can do, you know, not you know,
obviously in the pocket, but you know, you see the
things that he could do outside of the pocket as well.
But I do feel like he has a very good
arm and you know, he has some weapons around on
this year, those guys are making a lot of plays.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
So it's definitely awesome to see you.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
I'm definitely a big fan of him, and I reached
out to him a couple of times after the games
and stuff, you know, just now, you know, just congratulate him.
But we haven't had, you know, too much of a relationship,
but I definitely root for him. And you know, whoever,
whoever's back to quarterback or any position with the Huskies.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
And one more as we let you go. Mike's been
great to visit with you. Who are you rooting for
in the Rose Bowl? Alabama or Indiana?
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Wow, I'm just I'm just rooting for football. I don't
got no choice.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
How about this? How about this? Let me rephrase it.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
If Indiana wins and they play Oregon in the semi final,
who do you pull for in that game?
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Anybody but Oregon?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
I love it? I love it? All right, Mike, you're
the man. Thanks for doing this, buddy, Enjoy the rest
of your night. Good luck with the rehab. Can't wait
to see you back on the field, and we'll talk soon.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Man, all right, thank you.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
You got it, Michael Pennox with us anybody but Oregon?
I love it.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
The guy was here for two years, and it took
him two years to realize how much you're supposed to
hate the Oregon Ducks. It didn't take him two years.
I took him about a month and a half. By
the way, when he first showed up. You're right, all
right here, let's do this. We'll get a break. Sharon
Thorsland's the sideline reporter for the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Next up for the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
They're fighting for the NFC South Championship by the way
down there, and Charlotte, we'll talk to her. Rich Gannon,
the two thousand and two NFL MVP. He's gonna join
us at five. We got to talk about the big
news involving DK metcalf Man as well. Coming up on
a busy Monday with Softy and Hugh and Jackson right
here on ninety three three KJRFM
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