Signing day: IU football adds four-star QB Michael Penix

BLOOMINGTON – Indiana wasn’t a factor in Michael Penix’s recruitment a month ago.

No one was, in fact. He was committed to Tennessee.

So how did the 6-2 quarterback, a four-star prospect according to Rivals and the No. 20 pro-style quarterback in 2018 according to the 247Sports Composite, wind up signing with IU on Wednesday?

The answer to that question isn’t quite as winding as Penix’s journey to signing day. But it certainly speaks to the fluidity and quick reaction necessary in college football recruiting today.

It began when Tennessee fired Butch Jones and hired Jeremy Pruitt. An offense that valued Penix’s experience running the spread in high school wasn’t on the table anymore.

“Tennessee was going in a different direction with their offense, and they weren’t looking for a spread passer,” said Josh Newberg, a Florida-based recruiting analyst with 247Sports.

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Penix’s offer list includes Oregon, Rutgers, Arizona, Tennessee, South Florida, Florida State and Indiana. It’s also the product of a recruitment that looked closed last April, when the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Tech signal caller committed to the Volunteers.

Concurrent to Tennessee’s coaching change, Indiana wound up back in the market for a quarterback, after falling out of the running for junior college transfer Terry Wilson. Penix became a quick priority. 

“They brought five coaches in home the week before the dead period. That made a huge impression on the family,” Newberg said.

That led to an official visit to Bloomington earlier this month. 

“Heading into that visit, I don’t think Indiana was a real player for Penix,” Newberg said, “and then coming out of that visit, I think they completely changed his mindset.”

Florida State, in the middle of its own coaching change, entered the picture, with Seminoles coach Willie Taggart offering a scholarship.

But Tom Allen and IU offered a sweetener: the chance to enroll early. 

Penix had intended to enroll in January all along, and doubled his effort academically to meet that goal. When Tennessee fell through, early enrollment didn’t have to go with it, at least not at Indiana.

That’s how the Hoosiers managed to land a quarterback with 4,243 passing yards, 61 touchdowns and just six interceptions over the last two seasons.

“First of all, I think he’s a leader out on the field,” Newberg said. “I’ve been watching him throughout 7-on-7 and at Tampa Bay Tech for three years now. He’s always been a great kid to deal with on and off the field. Players around him seem to like him.”

A left-hander, Penix is considered a pro-style thrower, but Newberg said he has mobility in his locker as well.

Penix rushed for 649 yards and two touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons.

“He’s not a skinny kid now, but I think as he puts on some weight, I think he’s going to be a real potent runner,” Newberg said. “He is tough, he runs downhill. He has a little bit more elusiveness to him than you think. Once he adds that size, I think he’s gonna be a more durable runner.”

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Newberg estimated Penix, who is listed at 195 pounds, could stand to add 10-15 pounds of muscle in college, another area of development that will speed up with early enrollment.

Additionally, Newberg said the southpaw signal caller will need to strengthen his arm, polish his delivery and, like most quarterbacks his age, adjust to the schematic demands of the next level.

Indiana’s quarterback room will be young in 2018. At the moment, rising redshirt sophomore Peyton Ramsey is the most-experienced player the Hoosiers have at the position.

Allen could opt to add depth by keeping IndyStar Mr. Football Reese Taylor behind center, where he starred for 6A state champion Ben Davis this past fall. But Taylor could also eventually move to a skill position. Penix will stay at quarterback.

Like any young player at his position, he’ll have a learning curve to flatten. Newberg said he sees Indiana as a solid landing spot for Penix.

“For what he does,” Newberg said, “I think he’s a great fit, one of the best out there.”

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.