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College football rankings: Sam Howell, Spencer Rattler and the top 20 quarterbacks of 2021

By Cody Williams

Dec 27, 2019; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) runs during the fourth quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2019; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) runs during the fourth quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michael Penix Jr., Indiana Hoosiers. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Penix Jr., Indiana Hoosiers. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

15. Michael Penix Jr., Indiana

The sample size with Michael Penix Jr. isn’t particularly large. He has just 12 games as the Hoosiers starting quarterback but, what he’s shown in those outings — and especially in the 2020 season — shows what type of talented player we’re looking at under center (sort of) for Indiana entering the 2021 campaign.

While his dash to the goal-line against Ohio State was an iconic moment, Penix doesn’t necessarily rely all too heavily on his legs, though he’s a capable runner. Instead, he’s provided a lethal deep-passing attack to the Indiana offense. That’s why he’s been able to throw for 3,039 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions over that 12-game span he’s been the starter. He can air it out.

The issue for Penix has been injuries. His creative style of play to create out of structure has led to him getting dinged up to varying degrees, including tearing his ACL to end his 2020 season. Assuming he recovers from that fully, he will need to stay healthy for Indiana to reach their ceiling and, individually, for him to prove he belongs among the best quarterbacks in the country.

While you would also like to see him improve on only a 56.4 percent completion rate from his six games last year, Penix has all the tools to make any throw on the field. He’s one of the more underrated signal-callers in the country that will be taking the field in the fall.