Patrick Mahomes Faces Fresh Challenger as Michael Penix Jr. Closes the Gap to Former Texas Tech Star

It looks like Patrick Mahomes has a challenger. However, this challenger hasn’t made it to the NFL yet, but he might. Sooner than we think. College is the place where the athletes have a kick start to their career and it’s safe to say that the Washington Huskies QB Michael Penix Jr. is carving a lane of his own. The drafting season is approaching, and the teams are eager to pick the cream of the crop.

In the wake of these new opportunities, Dov Kleiman tweeted out an interesting comparison between the QBs from Texas Tech and the Washington Huskies. Mahomes had 4,500+ passing yard seasons in his tenure with Texas Tech. Penix Jr., who earned the nickname ‘Big Penix Energy’, has closed the gap for Mahomes’ college record.

Michael Penix Jr. is earning comparisons with Patrick Mahomes

Michael Penix Jr. has cemented his legacy by becoming the first college quarterback since Patrick Mahomes to throw for more than 4.500 yards in two consecutive seasons. Dov Kleiman, for instance, is already convinced. After Penix’s jaw-dropping performance in the CPF semifinals, he posted on X, “Washington Huskies Michael Penix Jr. has joined #Chiefs Patrick Mahomes territory. 👀”.

It’s a comparison between both QBs’ college careers and Penix Jr. has joined Patrick Mahomes by putting up 4,500+ yards in consecutive seasons. In his 2022 season with the Huskies, Michael Penix Jr. managed to amass 4,641 yards. However, his stats took a slight jump as 2023 came to an end and he ended up having 4,559 yards. But Patrick Mahomes still reigns superior on Penix Jr. with 4,653 yards in his 2015 season and 5,052 yards in the 2016 season.

It’s not like there wasn’t any hype around the Huskies QB before the CFPs semifinals. But the game against Texas has put him in a different spotlight. The QB made 29 passes over 430 yards and two touchdowns! His yardage in this game is only second to Joe Burrow, who threw for 493 yards for LSU in Peach Bowl 2019 against Oklahoma.

The college fans went wild because the game provided glimpses of Patrick Mahomes’ college football era. Comments like “Penix looks like Pat Mahomes rn I am sick,” are rampant on X right now. Penix’s “deep ball throws” during the game also earned him comparisons with Mahomes.

READ MORE- Patrick Mahomes Misses Time With His Family as Jackson Stands With Randi & Mia

These stats might be a precursor to a phenomenal rookie season that Penix Jr. might have in the NFL if he ends up playing for the league. Though Penix Jr. has a long way to go, a lot of teams in the NFL might look at him as a strong prospect. A brief comparison between the athletes’ last season at their colleges would give us a better clue in understanding why the Huskies QB would be a sought-after pick in the upcoming drafts.

How does Michael Penix Jr. fare against Patrick Mahomes on paper?

Talking about Patrick Mahomes, his last college season was in 2015 and it was when he completed 388 out of 591 passes, he made. Coming out with a 65.7% completion rate, Mahomes averaged 8.5 yards per pass and amassed 41 touchdowns. He was intercepted 10 times during that season and was sacked 27 times. Mahomes had a passer rating of 152.0 when left Texas Tech.

ESPN’s stats of Penix Jr.’s 2023 season are a bit outdated, but he’s completed 307 of his 466 passes and passed for 4,218 yards. He averaged 9.1 yards per pass and had 33 touchdowns. He was intercepted 9 times and was sacked 10 times in the 2023 season with the Huskies. Penix Jr. has a passer rating of 147.3 as of the 2023 season, per ESPN.

However, considering Kleiman’s stats, these 2023 stats might not seem updated, but it’s safe to say that Penix Jr. is arguably entering Patrick Mahomes’ territory. What’s your take on this?

Watch this story: Tom Brady Successor Finds an 8-Worded Reality Check As Bucs QB Baker Mayfield Finally Set To Prove if He Is Worth Legends Shoes