Portal In: Jack Tuttle
The transfer churn rolls along as Michigan has landed its Alan Bowman replacement in Indiana reserve QB Jack Tuttle:
Excited for the future. #goblue〽️ pic.twitter.com/erixu5V0qT
— Jack Tuttle (@jacktuttle14) December 20, 2022
Once upon a time, Tuttle was a high level QB recruit. He was a 4* and in the top 200 nationally, hailing from Mission Hills HS in San Marcos, CA. Tuttle enrolled at Utah and did not see the field as a true freshman, sitting behind starting QB Tyler Huntley. He opted to transfer from the Utes after just one season, picking Indiana and Tom Allen. Tuttle sat behind Peyton Ramsey and Michael Penix Jr. in 2019, attempting only 11 passes that season. Ramsey transferred to Northwestern after the season ended, so Tuttle became the primary backup to Penix, a role that got you some playing time because of Penix's well documented injury problems.
Penix bit the dust against Maryland in 2020, so Tuttle came in to finish the year, closing it out against the Terps and then quarterbacking IU to a gritty win over Wisconsin. He came up short in the Outback Bowl against Ole Miss, but Tuttle was playing with a separated shoulder. Over those games in 2020 Tuttle was 44/72 (61.1%) for 5.0 Y/A, 2 TD to 1 INT. The 2021 season was a similar story, with Penix starting the year then getting injured, forcing Tuttle to step up, before injury whacked Tuttle again. Penix was hurt against Penn State, so Tuttle got the start against MSU, a game that Indiana nearly won. He then started against OSU, led the Hoosiers for a TD on their opening drive and then got hurt again, leading to IU starting Donaven McCulley, a true freshman ATH (now WR), at QB against Michigan. Tuttle returned a month later to play a little against Rutgers but was terrible and after that, his season was officially over. His statline that season was much uglier, 45/87 (51.7%) for 4.9 Y/A, 2 TD to 5 INT.
Tuttle entered 2022 hoping to be Indiana's starter, but he was beaten out in training camp by Missouri transfer Connor Bazelak. Tuttle got a chance to start against PSU in November and was doing pretty well, 9/12 for 82 yards and a TD but he was sacked four times (remember IU's OL?) and the last of those sacks broke him. Boom, injured again. In total, he exits his Indiana career with a statline of 57.1% completion, 5.0 Y/A, 5 TD to 6 INT. He is not a mobile QB, 79 career rushing yards on 50 attempts. 14 of those carries are sacks, but his career long rush is just 15 yards.
Tuttle comes to Michigan with one year remaining of eligibility (five years in college, 2018 redshirt used but 2020 COVID-shirt still usable), and is more or less just a body to have on the depth chart. With Cade McNamara exiting, Michigan is a bit thin at QB. JJ McCarthy will be the 2023 starter, Davis Warren is in line to be the backup, but after that there is Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji, both of which were project QBs and are just one year in, and then recruit Kendrick Bell, also a project who may not even stick at QB. Michigan needed another player with at least a little bit of NCAA experience and Tuttle fits that. You don't want him to ever see the field, but if he does, maybe he could be okay if you gave him an ounce of protection for once in his career? I suppose that's a long way of saying I don't think this adding Tuttle is a major difference from what Alan Bowman was this season.
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December 20th, 2022 at 3:50 PM ^
I like that he's got some experience at QB (because of a broken Penix).
December 20th, 2022 at 3:52 PM ^
Welcome! Get a Michigan education, and perhaps a ring as a bench player.
December 20th, 2022 at 7:04 PM ^
Get a Michigan education?
He's been in college for 5 years already!
I have no idea what other realistic QB options were out there, but I just feel like if you're gonna take an "In case of emergency, break glass" QB, he shouldn't be made of glass himself!
December 20th, 2022 at 9:59 PM ^
If you have no idea about the options out there, why opine?
December 21st, 2022 at 1:37 AM ^
I explained very clearly why I opined...🤷♂️
December 20th, 2022 at 3:52 PM ^
Perhaps style is as important as his prospects of playing.
With Moody leaving, it's good to add facial hair to the roster.
December 20th, 2022 at 3:52 PM ^
I kinda wonder if a player like Tuttle is coming to get a head start on a coaching career. Which seems like a decent idea, especially if you can get your education while doing it. Regardless, it certainly isn't a bad thing to have an experienced third string break-glass-in-case-of-emergency QB.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:00 PM ^
I think he already has an MBA from Indiana. Finished undergrad in 3.5 years, started MBA in fall 2021.
December 20th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^
Don't you only get 1 free transfer? This is his 2nd transfer.
Also looks like he's separated his shoulder twice and forgone surgery both times. Seems like an injury that could re-occur if he gets substantial playing time.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:24 PM ^
This would fall under the grad transfer rule for immediate eligibility, I assume, not the one-time waiver.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:26 PM ^
Makes sense, yeah that's my bad, I even posted in this thread he already graduated twice.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:02 PM ^
QB seems like something for me to be neurotic about after next year
December 20th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Love me some Tuttle huddle.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
The only thing that would make this better is if he were from Battle Creek. Or transferring from Berlin Polytechnic.
December 20th, 2022 at 5:10 PM ^
I made that joke in the Board post lol.
December 20th, 2022 at 7:44 PM ^
Nice reference, pouring one out for Capt. Tuttle.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
In his goodbye announcement to Indiana, he says he has 2 years of eligibility remaining. Perhaps a medical year from one of his various injuries.
EDIT: I read the goodbye statement from one of his teammates that he re-tweeted. His goodbye statement didn't specify, but other articles on him also state that he only has one year remaining.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:30 PM ^
ah, yeah I guess he could maybe get a medshirt for this past season
December 20th, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
Good pickup. As noted without McNamara it's mine to have someone who has played some games in the conference who can step in the field if extremely necessary. Having seen him play a tiny bit in conference he feels like a step above Bowman and I wouldn't be shocked if he gave a real fight for the backup role with Warren, even though I agree Warren is the better option there.
As always, I hope to only see these guys in blowout wins.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:28 PM ^
How on earth did you get so much of a write up on him? Did you know he was coming ahead of everyone else?
December 20th, 2022 at 4:56 PM ^
One of my football mantras is that you always need three (3) playable QBs. Looks like we'll have that. Welcome, Jack
December 20th, 2022 at 5:47 PM ^
Wtf is going on. Are we just accepting everyone that wants to transfer here now? This is getting ridiculous
December 20th, 2022 at 10:50 PM ^
Yes. I just tweeted at Harbaugh expressing my interest. I am a 40 year old, 5'10" white guy, and will be a 2023 starting cornerback for the Michigan Wolverines.
December 20th, 2022 at 6:13 PM ^
You DO want him to see the field...every game in fact...when we're up by 5 touchdowns=)
December 20th, 2022 at 7:24 PM ^
Handing off exclusively, so as not to get his shoulder separated again!
December 20th, 2022 at 6:18 PM ^
Tuttle? His name is Buttle. There must be some mistake.
Mistakes? We don't make mistakes, this is Department of Works.
December 20th, 2022 at 7:05 PM ^
Love this pick-up!!
December 20th, 2022 at 7:31 PM ^
Why, Fercryinoutloud?!
Chances appear high that were he ever actually needed, he wouldn't finish the game (as was detailed happening more than once in the post!)
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