PRESEASON POISE

BY BART POTTER • FOR GO HUSKIES MAGAZINE

Kalen DeBoer is not, by title, the name, image and likeness coach, or the Pac12 media rights coach, or the conference realignment coach.

His title is Head Football Coach for the University of Washington. And yet, in the modern world of college football, he is all of the above.

“All those things are part of the pieces I have to keep in mind every single day,” said DeBoer. “They’re things that impact our players and the culture of our program. That’s my job.”

DeBoer is also not the transfer portal coach, but his effective use of the portal — and a relationship he fostered over several years and half a continent — helped bring a talented midwestern quarterback named Michael Penix Jr. to Montlake for the 2022 season.

DeBoer’s success in instilling his culture for Husky football in 2022, his first season as head coach, is reflected in an 11-2 record, a Valero Alamo Bowl victory and a No. 8 national ranking in the final Associated Press poll. He was named Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year by his peers and the Associated Press Pac-12 Coach of the Year.

And Penix, who demonstrated undeniable gifts at Indiana University in an injury-affected four years, made himself at home in his first season at UW. He passed for 4,641 yards and 31 touchdowns as the high-scoring Huskies defeated all three of their Northwest rivals — Oregon State, Oregon and Washington State — and finished tied for second in the Pac-12.

Penix’s return to UW for a sixth college season is a large reason the Dawgs are regarded as a consensus top 10 team in early preseason rankings for 2023. The Penix name can be found in conversations around football that include another name: Heisman.

A trophy bearing the latter name did not come up in Penix’s discussion of aspirations for 2023.

“We got a lot of goals we want to accomplish,” Penix said. “There’s a lot left out on the table.”

It was in Bloomington in 2019 that DeBoer was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Hoosiers and Penix, then a redshirt freshman. He started six games and passed for 1,394 yards and 10 TDs. After DeBoer was hired to be the Huskies head coach, the portal delivered Penix to Seattle.

If you have goals for a football season, as Penix does for 2023, they might as well involve perfection.

“Always finish every drive with points,” he said.

Penix operated with precision behind an experienced Husky offensive line that provided a virtually spotless pocket. He was sacked only five times all season.

The Huskies O-line might be better this year, according to Penix. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I get sacked zero times,” he said.

DeBoer allowed himself a look ahead on Penix’s behalf when he described what NFL draft gurus might see when they scrutinize the sixth-year senior in his final college season.

First, they like his “arm talent” and his ability to make plays, according to his coach. And Penix’s journey in college football has brought him to an understanding of leadership and what it takes to win.

“He’s exactly what an NFL team would want.”

Penix is confident he knows what the pros will find. “They’re going to see a quarterback in control,” he said, “quick with my process, who can put the ball anywhere on the field.”

With five other teams besides the Huskies ranked in the preseason top 25, the Pac-12 offers a challenge at every turn of the schedule. DeBoer knows he has weapons to take to battle.

On offense, the Huskies will rely on Penix and a productive, experienced trio of receivers (Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Ja’Lynn Polk), a fleet of versatile running backs and that promising offensive line.

On a defense looking to take a step forward, the Huskies have an All-America candidate in junior edge Bralen Trice.

“We’re excited,” DeBoer said. “We know there’s a lot of work to support the goals we have and the expectations that are out there. Just focus on what we can control, work hard every day and trust the process.”

For Michael Penix Jr., perfection is on the table.

“We don’t want to lose. Losing is not even in the equation.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Our August issue of Go Huskies will have comprehensive coverge of the football team, offense, defense and the excitement surrounding Penix’s Heisman watch.