SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to the official high-seat troopy podcast. And the winner is here's your host, Chris Houston. Happy Heisman Saturday to everyone out there. This is the day we've been waiting for here at the Official Heisman Trophy Podcast. Today is the day of the 89th Heisman Trophy ceremony. We will announce the winner tonight on ESPN. But in the meantime, we have the four finalists for 2023 that we talked to this morning. So we're going to get right into it. All right, Jaden Daniels, LSU. Welcome to the Official Heisman Trophy Podcast again.

SPEAKER_03 1:01

Thank you for having me again.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

Yeah, we had you on uh in October, I believe. And really, since then, you just went on a tear. Uh second year at LSU, second year under Brian Kelly. Was it being in that second year in that offense? Was that kind of one of the big keys to you just really like starting to fulfill your potential?

SPEAKER_03 1:21

Yeah, most definitely. Um, you know, coming back, that was a big thing. Um, second year in the offense, second year with with all the players. Um we were turned 10 out of 11 starters on offense. So that helped out a lot and then the same staff and everything. So I was very familiar with everybody. We all know each other on and off the field.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Yeah. So what's the experience been like so far being here in New York for you?

SPEAKER_03 1:40

Yeah, uh my first time. It's been dope. Um getting to see everything I've seen growing up on TV, you know, being from California, you know, you come all the way across the world. Right. Um, you get to see Times Square, you get to see, you know, where the ball drops and things like that. Um so it's been dope seeing uh Statue of Liberty from the Edge and stuff like that and just being around the other finalists. Yeah. Um you know I'm a Calais guy myself.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

You know, when you go to New York, it's just different energy, isn't it? Most differently. It's different. Yeah. Uh what's been the highlight of the trip so far for you?

SPEAKER_03 2:09

I'd probably say going to the edge, uh, even though I was nervous, you know, to walk across the little thing. You don't like you don't like heights? I mean, I'm not, I wouldn't say I'm afraid of heights, like, but it's like it makes sense. I mean, it's it's just different. It's like uh we were talking about yesterday, you know, the little clear part um in the floor. I was like, how do you how does somebody know that like that's sturdy and stable? Right.

SPEAKER_01 2:30

Well, no, I think there's only been two or three people who died from that so far, so it's no big deal. You made it. You made it through. I did. What's it been like hanging with those other guys? Did you know any of them coming in?

SPEAKER_03 2:41

Yeah, I've been knowing both since uh high school. Um we're in the same high school class. Um we we did stuff in the League 11, the opening. Um, you know, we're roommates at the opening. Yeah. Um I recently um started working out with Michael Pennys this past summer because we're staying with we trained with the same uh quarterback coach, 3D QB, um in uh Orange County, California. And then um Marv, you know, we follow each other on social media, but this is as my first time officially meeting him. You know, he he's cool and just um he's a he got great vibes and and stuff like that. So it's been it's been good being around as a finalist.

SPEAKER_01 3:14

You and Bo are like like the uh like the elder statesman of college football. Um did you get a chance to talk to any of the winners from last night at the Heisman uh welcome reception at all?

SPEAKER_03 3:25

Yeah, I did. Um obviously, you know, RG3 Tim Tebow. Uh I was talking a lot with Tony Dor Tony Dorsett. Yeah. Um Archie, you know, talking to Archie, I only want to do something like that. Yeah, the two timer. Yeah, Mike Garrett and you know Steve Spurry and all those guys, you know, just being around my family being able to be around that. Um, you know, my dad was a big football fan, so him experience stuff like that, you know, it meant a lot for me.

SPEAKER_01 3:49

Yeah, you had, I mean, just an incredible season, video game like numbers. What was the highlight of the season for you?

SPEAKER_03 3:56

Uh I would say the highlight of the season um was probably after everything we've been through was was be able to beat Florida. Yeah. Um, you know, because they don't like us and you know we don't like them. So uh being able to beat Florida at home, um, my last game, I one of my last games in Death Valley uh at night, you know, it just meant a lot.

SPEAKER_01 4:14

Yeah, did it make you know, having the game you did against the Gators, did that was it, you know, as you're as you're running down the field, were you like, yeah, you know, I'm doing this against Florida? Most definitely, for sure. Yeah. Um reflect on your journey a little bit. You know, you're at Cajon High, you know, like most LA people, that's just a little pit stop on the way to Vegas. They turn left, go up Cone Pass, uh ASU, now LSU. What's you know, can you believe you're here after all that?

SPEAKER_03 4:42

I mean, uh yes and no. Um obviously throughout high school, I believe I could I could be a finalist, I could potentially win a Heisman. That's that's like been a goal of mine. Um going to ASU. I wanted to be the first person to bring a Heisman to ASU. Um, you know, obviously other things happen. Um but you know, I I love my time there, and then I'm going to LSU and now potentially be the third to bring a Heisman trophy back. You know, it just means a lot to send uh my own legacy and you know bring history back to school.

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Yeah. Speaking of uh LSU Heisman's, did you get a chance to talk to Joe Burrow before coming out here? Did he give you any pointers or words of advice?

SPEAKER_03 5:18

Yeah, um, when I was in Baltimore, um he has sent me a text and he was like, Man, just enjoy the weekend. Uh it's gonna be a lot, so uh you gotta be mentally prepared, but you know, just enjoy every little thing you can.

SPEAKER_01 5:29

Yeah. Or uh do you have a speech ready potentially if if you if you win it? Yeah, I I can't I can't prepare for a speech. You know, there's been some great Heisman speeches over there. Joe Burrow gave a great Heisman speech. Have you had a chance to listen to that one?

SPEAKER_03 5:42

Yeah, I went back and watched watched a couple of speeches, you know, just to get um ideas and stuff like that. And I didn't want to come here not prepared, you know, just in case my name was called.

SPEAKER_01 5:51

So you know you gotta stay prepared. Absolutely. When um uh you're gonna do the walkthrough later on today, it's you know another busy day. Uh and then you you're at the live television ceremony. Is it you are you nervous?

SPEAKER_03 6:03

Is it I mean it has it kicked in yet? Uh probably as you know, crunch time comes, you know, you start feeling those little butterflies and stuff like that because you you don't know, you know. Yeah, you don't know what's gonna happen, you don't know whose name's gonna be called. Yeah. Uh so it it's gonna be fun. I think that's that's kind of why uh you know it makes all this, you know, so amped up.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Yeah. Are there any other Heisland winners out there that you're looking forward to meeting if they come come by this weekend? Barry Sanders. Barry Sanders. Yeah. I'm not sure if he's gonna be here, but but if he does, you know, at some point I want to meet him. Yeah, he's uh he was on the show a few weeks ago. He was great. Um what about your suit? You got you got a suit, uh special suit ready for the occasion? Yeah, uh I got a little Taylor suit. Yeah, is it is it uh like LSU purple or nah. All right, all right. Well, Jaden Daniels, uh congratulations on winning the Walter Camp and uh was what was the other award he won?

unknown 6:54

Uh Davy O'Brien.

SPEAKER_01 6:55

Davy O'Brien. Uh great wins there and uh good luck tonight. And uh, you know, if things go right for you, your life's about to change. Uh thank you. Thank you very much. Marvin Harrison Jr., the Ohio State University. Thanks for coming on, the official Heisman Trophy podcast.

SPEAKER_02 7:10

Of course, thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Congratulations on winning the Blitnikoff first and foremost. Are you still kind of buzzing from that from that award?

SPEAKER_02 7:18

Yeah, definitely. Um that's special, especially you know, being a receiver there. I think college football has one award, you definitely want to win. And I'm just super glad I could bring it back to Ohio State and uh the great lineage of wide receivers that we've had there, and I'm glad that we can add uh Blitnikoff Award to our list now.

SPEAKER_01 7:33

What's it been like being in New York so far, uh, you know, with all this hubbub and and and craziness?

SPEAKER_02 7:38

It's been great. Long days though. Long days, a lot of things that you have to do, and um I'm just great that I can celebrate with my teammates and a great group of guys as well.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

You're uh from Philly, so you've you've probably been in New York a lot. Did you some of these other guys I don't think have? Did you give them a little bit of the ins and outs of the big city?

SPEAKER_02 7:54

Yeah, no. I mean, I have been a lot. I think JD, Jaden Daniel, he hasn't been here. Uh this is his first time. No, he's a Cali guy, so um I think Bo and Michael have. Okay. Um, I think we'd all just explore together and just figuring out from our different perspectives.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

Yeah. What's been the highlight of the trip so far?

SPEAKER_02 8:13

Uh I would say just being with my family, uh getting a chance to celebrate with them and uh you know just understanding that we don't always get this opportunity to look back and reflect on uh all that we've accomplished and now we get a chance to do that.

SPEAKER_01 8:24

How well did you know the other guys coming in?

SPEAKER_02 8:26

Oh, I was a fan. I'm a fan of college football, so I get to watch them on Saturdays, know my games are done, and obviously they're all special talents at the quarterback position. And uh it's been amazing to watch them all year and really throughout their whole college career.

SPEAKER_01 8:38

Yeah. Lots of buck guys have been to New York lately. Did you get any pointers from like CJ or anybody else coming in here telling you what to expect?

SPEAKER_02 8:45

No pointers. Uh I did talk to CJ this week and he just congratulated me, telling me that I'm super proud of you, and uh he's been amazing right now in NFL, and that's nothing but what I expected from him. So uh but then it's a long list of guys that we've had recently to go to the Heisman. Uh it's definitely an honor to be in that conversation.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

Yeah, you had a great season, 67 catches, 1,211 yards, 12 touchdowns. What was the highlight of your year?

SPEAKER_02 9:09

Uh I would say the Penn State game. Uh that's one game that no, I had circles on the schedule, and I know we probably both be undefeated going into that game. And um we were down a couple guys, and I know the offense had to lean on me heavy to you know be successful. And um I think I came through. One of those biggest games, so that's the moment I look for I look for look at.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

When we talked to you back in September, you had just come off uh ankle injury uh and you had to deal with that all year. Was that was that a real challenge for you or was it was something that as it as the year wore on, was it easier to deal with?

SPEAKER_02 9:39

No, I was definitely a challenge, but I had an ankle injury last year as well and kind of uh prevented me from doing things that I wanted to do. So I was kind of used to it after a while. Uh of course it's not great. I used to I didn't want to use one of your ankles, but um something I worked through throughout the year.

SPEAKER_01 9:53

Imagine if you didn't have an ankle injury. Right, but you wouldn't have uh like you mentioned before, first buckeye since Terry Glenn in 1995 to win the Blinna Cup. You very close, very close vote apparently. Very close, yeah. And you know, a lot of these uh uh you know a lot of other schools talk about being wide receiver you. And uh, you know, what did it mean to to bring that award back to Columbus and and for your uh wide receiver group?

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Yeah, that's super important to me. That's probably the biggest reason why I wanted to win it, not for myself, which is to be able to say that you know, Ohio State we have a Bullet Cough Award winner as well. Now we have two in uh recent years, you know, LSU has had a couple or Alabama has had a couple. Um they even have a Heisman Award winner, so hopefully that I can be able to do that and add that to our list as well. But you know, always had the wide receiver you conversations. And uh we didn't have the awards to really be able to put our name in the mix, but I think now we do.

SPEAKER_01 10:42

Yeah, you had the all the first round draft picks. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 10:44

We just had the first round draft picks, so now we got some awards to back it up.

SPEAKER_01 10:47

Now your dad wasn't a finalist, but you know, he's been through all this stuff before. I mean what what kind of advice do you give you on on just dealing with all the spotlight and the pressure and just you know, everyone asked you questions. You probably had to answer the same questions you know nine hundred times.

SPEAKER_02 11:00

Uh I think really he hasn't had to tell me too much. I think I'm just a natural at it. I think I learned a lot from him just uh observing from afar, and I think actually one of the first times I did come to New York, he was a Hall of Fame inductee or waiting to be inducted, and obviously he didn't get in that year, he got in uh three years later. But his first time uh you know being up for the Hall of Fame, we were both in New York in a hotel, just waiting around and seeing if he could the call. And you know, unfortunately he didn't get the call, but yeah uh now years later look at me, here I am as a Heisman finalist. It's just crazy how uh full circle moment.

SPEAKER_01 11:33

That's awesome. You're gonna go through the walkthrough later. Are you nervous about tonight and and you know going up there? I mean, obviously you play in front of thousands and on millions on TV, but this is a little different.

SPEAKER_02 11:42

This is definitely different, it's definitely different. Um first I only have a speech prepared if I do win, so I'll have to do that over the next couple hours here and um figure what I want to want to say there.

SPEAKER_01 11:52

What about your uh your suit? You got your you got a special suit?

SPEAKER_02 11:55

Suit is definitely picked out and something I haven't worn before, and I'm excited to see how it looks on stage.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

Awesome. Well, good luck tonight and uh good luck going forward and we appreciate you coming on the show.

SPEAKER_02 12:05

Thank you very much. Appreciate you having me.

SPEAKER_01 12:06

All right, Bo Nicks, University of Oregon Heisman Finalist 2023. How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_00 12:10

I'm doing awesome, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

So, what's your experience been like so far in New York City?

SPEAKER_00 12:14

It's been awesome. I I uh was fortunate to to come a long time ago when I was like eight years old, but you know, times have changed and uh I'm a lot older now, so I can experience it a lot differently. And it's been a great time, uh especially being here with the other finalists. Uh those guys have have been awesome. They they've had a great season themselves, but they're just awesome, awesome guys to be around, and so we've had a blast.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

Yeah. W was the city like how you remembered it when you were little?

SPEAKER_00 12:38

Oh yeah, and actually there was um a lot more people than I remember um walking walking around the street.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

Yeah. Have you seen any Oregon fans walking around? Are they have they recognized you?

SPEAKER_00 12:47

Uh I haven't seen many. No, I've actually been kind of shocked at that.

SPEAKER_01 12:50

Yeah. How well did you know the other finalists coming in?

SPEAKER_00 12:53

Uh I knew them all okay. I hadn't met um, you know, Marvin. This is the first time I met him. Uh, but the other guys I had been around just a few times at at different camps or um, you know, different times we've played or or whatnot. So it hadn't been like we have the best, you know, personal relationship because we're so spread out and we're all doing different things, but you know, we definitely have a mutual respect uh between the two and uh or between the other two quarterbacks. Obviously, I know what you know Marv has done and what he's been through. So we all have a uh great respect for each other and uh we just know what we have to go through on a daily basis, which I think you know connects us and uh you know brings us closer.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

What's it been like behind with these guys? Any of these guys have any interesting uh uh you know quirks or things that you learned about?

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Well, they're they're all interesting in their own right. Um, you know, they're all really cool people, um, they have great personalities, they um, you know, they they have really great families. That's one thing that you get to you get to meet um you know on Heisman weekend is you know their families. Their family's around for everything, and so uh you just get get to meet where they come from, you know, who they're around, and um, you know, I think that just you know speaks to not only them as a person, but you know what family they come from.

SPEAKER_01 13:59

Yeah. You said recently that going to Oregon changed your life. Uh tell me about that. What how how did it change your life?

SPEAKER_00 14:05

Well, simply put, I mean, it was the best decision I could have ever had uh made. Uh, you know, at the time when I chose Oregon, I wanted to go compete for a national championship, and and you know, the past two years we've been able to do that. So I've just been really thrilled, really excited to be there. It's been the best two years, um, some of the best two years of my life, and um, you know, I'm just really grateful for it.

SPEAKER_01 14:27

Your dad was an Auburn legend, and and uh I could imagine, you know, he maybe you know it was like mixed feelings, him leave you leaving Auburn. What what kind of advice do you give you along the way?

SPEAKER_00 14:37

Uh well, you know, he was always supportive of whatever I had done, you know, at a time, you know, he wanted me to get out of Auburn too. Um just because of, you know, he knew what I was going through, he knew, you know, how I felt about things, and you know, he knew my um, you know, I guess um the level I was on was um you know, I just wasn't necessarily reaching my full potential. And you know, he saw that and um you know it wasn't uh the easiest at times and again he saw that too. So, you know, I think he supported me the whole entire time. He never um I think even wanted me to to stay at Auburn just because it was Auburn for for his ties, you know. He didn't care about um you know his relationship with Auburn. It was just all about, you know, um, you know, what was best for me.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

Yeah. Um you had a remarkable season this season, 40 touchdown passes, over 77% completion. What was the highlight of the year for you?

SPEAKER_00 15:30

There were many, it's hard to say one. Uh there were so many down the stretch, many of those wins um, you know, that were really cool. And I think one of my highlights honestly was just seeing um, you know, playing with my brother Tez and you know, playing with uh all those guys that you know knowing it's your last year, you get to see them develop. And you know, a lot of those guys are my friends, a lot of those guys are are my buddies, and um, you know, playing together with like Troy and Bucky and all those guys for two years, um, it's gonna be uh crazy having to leave them, but um, I know they're gonna have great, great careers in front of them.

SPEAKER_01 16:05

Yeah. What's been the highlight of the trip to New York so far for you?

SPEAKER_00 16:09

Wow, that's hard to even say. Um, I think just you know, honestly, as as much as it sounds like being with the Heisman Trophy, um, you know, seeing the trophy and being able to be a finalist and you know, taking the picture in Times Square. Um, you know, it's all seems sort of surreal and it's kind of crazy that, you know, it's even here and uh, you know, the weekend is gonna be something that, you know, I'll remember forever.

SPEAKER_01 16:33

Not not a whole lot of sleep on this weekend. No, not many. Not not many hours. Yeah. Um, did you get to meet any of the Heisen winners at the at the welcome reception last night?

SPEAKER_00 16:42

Yeah, I I got to uh you know meet a few uh different ones. I I've been fortunate to know a few in the past, but you know, I met some some different faces last night, and it's really cool because growing up you hear about all these guys and then now you're in a room with them all. And so um, you know, I'm never gonna complain about that being around um, you know, great college football players who have played it before me. And um, like I said, I'm just happy to be here because those experiences don't really come a whole lot.

SPEAKER_01 17:09

Yeah. Did you get any well wishes from Marcus Mariota before you came out here?

SPEAKER_00 17:13

Yeah, so so Marcus and I, we um, you know, we've been able to meet each other and to connect over the past few years at Oregon. He's been uh great, um, very supportive. He's been uh you know awesome to to talk to and um you know he's just very encouraging, he's very soft spoken, he's very, you know, kind-hearted person. So um I think that speaks a lot to him and his family, but uh and what what means a lot to him. So uh so yeah, he didn't necessarily reach out this time because he's so busy with with football with the Eagles, but um, you know, I know he's he's pulling for me and I know um you know the the support I have from him.

SPEAKER_01 17:47

Yeah. You're about to go through the the walkthrough for the TV show tonight. Do you have your your suit ready and are you are you a little nervous about that?

SPEAKER_00 17:53

Yeah, yeah, I'm ready and um you know I'm excited about it. I think this is one of those things that you think about a lot and you don't necessarily know when it's gonna happen, but um yeah, I'm excited for to dress up and to be in the uh in the um in the show and in the ceremony itself. I I mean watching it on TV is uh is one thing, but I would imagine to be in it and uh to be able to sit in those seats is is another thing regardless of of win or loss. But um, you know, even my dad said earlier he's like I get to sit in the Heisman Trophy ceremony and um you know just that perspective is pretty awesome.

SPEAKER_01 18:29

Yeah, very exciting times. Bo Nicks, University of Oregon, thanks for coming on the official Heisman Trophy podcast. Best of luck tonight, and uh, you know, get your speech ready if you if you need it. Yes, sir, thank you. All right, thank you. All right, Michael Penix Jr., University of Washington, Heisman Trophy Finalist. You just won the Maxwell Award. Congratulations. Thanks for coming on the show.

SPEAKER_04 18:47

Yes, sir, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

So, what's your experience been like in New York so far?

SPEAKER_04 18:50

It's been amazing. You know, uh I haven't been up here in a in a while. You know, I've been up here as a kid uh almost every year, you know, to see family because my mom's side is from up here, but you know, it's it's been great to be back here. Um man, it's been a an amazing experience. You know, I'm just glad to be able to be here and I'm just soaking it all in.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

What do you think in New York? Is it so different than than all the places you've been? Uh it's definitely different. Energy's different, right?

SPEAKER_04 19:15

Yeah, it's very fast. You know, it's everything is always moving. Um you go out on the streets, especially uh in the area we are, you know, downtown, like uh Times Square area, you're gonna see so many people, you know, all times of the day.

SPEAKER_01 19:27

So it's great. What's it like hanging with the other uh Heisman finalists? How well did you know them coming in? Uh it's great.

SPEAKER_04 19:32

You know, I I've no I've never met Marvin before uh until uh yesterday, but Bo and um and JD Jaden, you know, I I've known those guys and um you know those are great guys, you know, those uh first class um high-level football player guys. So uh it's been a blessing to be around them and you know just being able to talk to them and you know just see like uh outside of the football field, you know, those are great, great guys as well, you know. So just being around them has definitely been uh a great great time.

SPEAKER_01 19:59

You uh started out in Tampa and then you went to Indiana and then you went to Seattle. Those are like the three most different places. Did you ever imagine that starting out in Tampa that you'd end up on the other side of the the country and being a Heisman Trophy finalist?

SPEAKER_04 20:15

No, I didn't imagine it, you know, but um no that's just what my story led me to, you know. So um I'm I'm blessed to be here, you know. I'm glad I'm I went to the University of Washington. You know, I feel like they they provided me the opportunity to to be in this seat that I'm in right now, you know. So um I'm I'm just super blessed and thankful for my whole journey and you know I wouldn't change it for anything.

SPEAKER_01 20:33

It's kind of a cool story, and you know, that's definitely one of the highlights of the season. You guys are 13 and oh.

SPEAKER_04 20:38

Right.

SPEAKER_01 20:39

I mean, did has that sunk in yet?

SPEAKER_04 20:41

A little bit. Yeah. After the bowl game, you know, I definitely you know took a lot of time to uh celebrate, you know, took a couple days, you know, just soaking that all in, you know. But um right now it's back to work, you know. We got Texas coming up soon.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

So yeah, you had a lot of injuries that you've overcome. Was there ever a point early on when you were going through those injuries where you were just like, I I just don't know if I can keep going?

SPEAKER_04 21:05

Yeah, I had those times, you know, where it's like it did get tough for me, but you know, I I grew up and my parents they they never let us quit anything, you know. Me and my brothers, you know, they're like, if you start it, you gotta finish it. So, you know, um I started this football thing, so I'm gonna finish it, I'm gonna play until the wheels fall off. So um, man, I'm blessed for my whole journey, you know. Um obviously the diversity and stuff like that. You know, not everybody wants that, but you know, that's what comes with it sometimes. And yeah, you know, I'm glad to be on the other side.

SPEAKER_01 21:33

I think the most unique thing about you guys going through T-No is that the last nine games, every game was 10 points or less, and four of those were three points or less. Did you get to a point where it's like here we go again? Like how how do you, as a quarterback, you're the you know, you're the guy to control the offense. It seems like you just had ice in your veins in every one of those games. You like there was never was there a doubt or or did it what's it like to go through that situation where you where it's like the game is so close? And you're protecting your undefeated season. How do you get through that?

SPEAKER_04 22:04

Man, our coach, uh, Coach De Boy, he always said, Find a way to win. You know, that's that's what it's always about, find a way to win. You know, winning football games is um our ultimate objective, you know, each and every week. So uh we had to do whatever we could to be able to find that win. And we know that we were playing great great great teams each and every week. You know, we had like eight teams in the top 25 at one point in time in the pack. So uh it just shows how much talent we had in that in that conference, you know. But um, you know, to be able to come out on top, you know, 13-0, you know, it's definitely, you know, just shows character and the will to win that our team has.

SPEAKER_01 22:33

4,218 yards, 33 touchdowns. What was the highlight of your season? What game or play uh really like, you know, you look back, you're gonna remember the season. Which one will stick out to you the most?

SPEAKER_04 22:44

Always the tight tour championship. Yeah. You know, to finish 13-0 and uh, you know, winning it winning that game against a great team. You know, I feel like that's gonna be in my memories forever.

SPEAKER_01 22:53

Last night at the Heisman reception, a lot of Heisman winners there. Did you uh get a chance to talk to any of those guys?

SPEAKER_04 22:58

Yeah, I talked to a couple of them. You know, they're all high-class guys, you know. Um, especially I I've known RG3, you know, he he did a couple of our games, you know, I met him a couple times, saw T Bowl, you know, just a lot of great, a lot of greats, you know, just uh all across the room. So it's definitely an amazing time to be able to uh sit and talk with them for a moment at a time.

SPEAKER_01 23:16

It's been a crazy uh weekend so far, I imagine. I've I probably done like 900 interviews so far. You're about to go through the walkthrough a little later. Are you starting to get a little nervous about the ceremony coming up? It's uh you know, you've played in front of thousands and millions on TV, but it's kind of a little different animal. Like, you know, you're in a suit, you're no helmet on you.

SPEAKER_04 23:34

I want to say I'm nervous, you know, just because you know I I have a strong faith. So, you know, I I believe in God and I believe that you know everything happens for a reason and um He has a plan for me and it's already written. So, you know, I what whatever it comes down to, you know, um I'm just super blessed to be here in this moment, you know, in this seat. So uh I'm just gonna take it all in, you know, just uh taking the whole experience and you know um after this whole experience, I'm I'm gonna enjoy it no matter what, win or lose. Then I gotta get back to my team and make sure I'm locked in to go beat Texas.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

What would it mean for you to win the Heisman for the University of Washington?

SPEAKER_04 24:06

Man, it'll mean a lot. You know, uh this is something that you you see growing up as a kid, you know, on TV, you know, it's something that you dream of. And um, man, it it's definitely obviously it's the um most prestigious, like the best um individual world award in the in the nation, so in college football. So it's definitely something that, you know, every every college football player will want to uh achieve. But, you know, um for me, you know, it it'll be it'll mean a lot to me and my family, you know, just uh all the things that you know I I've been through to overcome um injury, setback, your uh failure at time, you know, to to be in this position is definitely it would definitely be uh worth it.

SPEAKER_01 24:43

Definitely will change your life if it happens, and you would be the first left-hander, uh left-handed quarterback to win since Tim Tebow, who you're gonna be talking to later. Do you have a little speech ready? Are you you have you been jotting some notes down what you might say if you win?

SPEAKER_04 24:55

Yeah, I've been jotting notes down, you know, um still still looking over it. You know, I the one thing I always said I said about my speech, I'm like, I don't want to miss out on anybody that you know played a huge role in my in my um football career and to help me to get to this point uh today. So uh that that's the one thing that you know I gotta make sure I'm I do right.

SPEAKER_01 25:13

Right. How's your suit? Are you uh who's who's gonna win the suit battle of the four finalists? I I feel like I'm gonna win it, but we'll see. I don't know what they got. It's like under uh it's like a secret uh you gotta unveil it before anybody else does, right? All right, well, uh Michael Penix Jr., thanks for coming on the official Heisman Trophy Podcast. Good luck tonight. Good luck in the the bowl game against Texas, and uh good luck to you and your family, and we'll uh we'll see you down the road. All right, thank you. Good dogs. Okay, those were your four Heisman Trophy finalists for 2023. By this time tomorrow, there will be a new Heisman Trophy winner, and we hope you uh join us on the next episode where we will have him as our special guest, and we will also go behind the scenes at everything that goes on for Heisman Weekend. We'll see you next time. The official Heisman Trophy podcast streams every Wednesday during the college football season and is hosted, co-produced, edited, and engineered by Chris Houston. Paul Goldberg is the executive producer and editor. Special shout out to Isaac Loencron, and big thanks to the Heisman Trophy Trust and its executive director, Rob Whalen, and associate director Tim Henning. The official Heisman Trophy podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. You can also find clips of our show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Just go to Heisman Trophy.