Huskies’ QB will test UT’S defense
Sarkisian’s history, Penix’s strong arm take center stage
AUSTIN — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is already well-acquainted with No. 12 Washington, the program the 20thranked Longhorns will meet Dec. 29 in the Alamo Bowl.
“Obviously I have a little bit of history there,” Sarkisian said of Washington last Sunday. “It has great history and tradition, great fan base, so it’s going be a heck of a challenge for us.”
For those not as knowledgeable about Texas’ Pac-12 opponent, here are five things to know about the Huskies:
The Washington-sarkisian connection:
A Californian who first broke into coaching at El Camino community college in 2000, Steve Sarkisian accepted Washington’s offer to lead the program after the Huskies went winless in 2008.
Then 34, Sarkisian had emerged as a viable head-coaching candidate for a Power Five gig following successful stints as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for USC (2001-03, 2005-08) and the Oakland Raiders (2004).
The Huskies showed progress in 2009, improving from 012 to 5-7 under college football’s third-youngest head coach. Washington won the 2010 Holiday Bowl, the program’s first postseason title since 2000, and went 34-29 overall with two more bowl appearances (both losses) during Sarkisian’s five seasons on the job.
In December 2013, Sarkisian jumped to former employer and Pac-12 rival USC. There, Sarkisian coached 18 games across parts of two seasons before USC terminated his contract five games into the 2015 campaign.
Washington’s QB is the real deal: Texas fans probably didn’t see much of fifth-year junior Michael Penix Jr. this year due to the Pac-12’s late kickoffs. They’ll find out later this month just how transformative the Indiana transfer has been for the Huskies.
Last year, Washington won four games and finished 73rd in passing offense (225.0), 107th in scoring offense (21.5) and 114th in total offense (323.4). With Penix helming the offense this year, the Huskies rank first in passing offense (376.7), second in total offense (521.7) and fourth in scoring offense (40.8)
The 6-foot-3 Penix led the nation in passing yards (4,354) during the regular season while completing 66 percent of his passes and accounting for 33 touchdowns (29 passing). He went 3-0 against ranked opponents, throwing for a combined 1,103 yards and seven touchdowns against then-no. 11 Michigan State, No. 23 Oregon State and No. 6 Oregon.
“Michael Penix, I’ve had a chance to watch them a few different times, and he throws it all over the place,” Sarkisian said. “They can run the ball effectively, but it’s a very dynamic passing game.”
Six Texans play for Washington: Washington doesn’t consider the state of Texas a top-priority for recruiting purposes, though its 2023 early signing
class did include Wylie East defensive lineman Anthony James and Arlington Seguin cornerback Disel Gordon.
The Huskies’ current roster includes six Texans plus one Texas A&M transfer, two of whom have played important roles in the program’s bounce-back season.
Redshirt freshman receiver Ja’lynn Polk starred at Lufkin and spent his freshman season at Texas Tech before transferring to UW in 2021. The 6-2 wideout leads the team in yards per catch (17.1) and is third in receptions (38), receiving yards (649) and receiving touchdowns (six).
Fifth-year edge defender Jeremiah Martin played
three seasons at Texas A&M (2018-20) then transferred to Washington in 2021 with three years of eligibility still remaining. Originally from San Bernardino, California, Martin leads the Huskies in sacks (8 ½) and tackles for loss (11.0) and is tied for third in the Pac-12 with 51 total quarterback pressures.
Kalen Deboer is a winner: First-year Washington coach Kalen Deboer has an impressive track record.
As Sioux Falls’ head coach from 2005 to 2009, Deboer went 67-3 overall and won three National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) titles. He finally got a chance to lead an FBS program in 2020, landing the Fresno State job after coordinating Indiana’s explosive Penix-led offense in 2019.
The Bulldogs went 3-3 against a limited schedule in Deboer’s first year then surged to a 9-3 regularseason record in 2021. Fresno State downed No. 13 UCLA and No. 21 San Diego State that season and earned a bid to the New Mexico Bowl, a lucrative campaign that helped Deboer land a five-year, $16.5 million contract from Washington.
Some Washington stars could opt out: Penix already declared he’s returning for another season, so Washington will at least have its star quarterback at the Alamodome. But like every other program outside the College Football Playoff, the Huskies could see some key players opt out of the Alamo Bowl to stay healthy ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.
According to the Seattle Times’ Mike Vorel, wide receivers Rome Odunze and Jalen Mcmillan and edges Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-fetui could choose to sit out if they declare for the draft.
Odzune finished the regular season with 1,088 receiving yards and seven touchdowns while Mcmillan posted 1,040 and eight, respectively. Trice was the Pac-12’s highest-graded edge defender, per Pro Football Focus. Tupuolafetui recorded five tackles and 31 pressures in 12 games.