How Jack Tuttle is playing role in developing next wave of Michigan playmakers
The Michigan Wolverines brought in Jack Tuttle from Indiana to add leadership and experience to the quarterback room, and the returns since he arrived have been overwhelmingly positive.
Tuttle had to compete for his role as Michigan’s primary backup quarterback but has separated from the pack in recent weeks and has been the first signal-caller off the bench in Big Ten play. With starting QB J.J. McCarthy yet to take a snap in the fourth quarter in eight games, Tuttle has had plenty of opportunity to hit the field.
“It’s just super fun to go in there and play ball in the second half,” Tuttle said on Tuesday night. “And it’s just because we’re executing at such a high level that we can do these things. And I’m super appreciative of this team for being that way. But it’s been a blast and being in big moments, it’s just fun.”
Tuttle spent four years in Bloomington after his freshman season at Utah and saw a lot of Big Ten football, but this is his first time playing for a contender. The differences between how Michigan and everyone else operates have been apparent to him.
“The biggest thing in difference with this program is just the detail,” Tuttle said. “Can’t say I’ve been around another program with this amount of detail. How you put your shoes, where you put your water bottle. How you do anything is how you do everything. And just that mentality helps us in practices and then helps us on game days. And with all the execution of our plays and everything. So it’s super important. That’s the biggest thing I see.”
Tuttle serves as a veteran voice and is essentially an extension of the coaching staff in his role. Aside from the obvious, tangible strides that McCarthy has made to his game, he sees the rest of the quarterbacks taking a mental leap forward, too.
“I’m so proud of those guys,” he said. “Everybody in that room has just made a huge jump from camp from No. 9 [McCarthy] to the rest of us.
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“[Alex] Orji, [Jayden] Denegal and Davis Warren have done a great job just progressing. And they’re going to keep doing that, but like I said before, I’m just super proud of them. Mentally is where a lot of it’s come from. Being able to get through their reads faster, timing up footwork to plays, it’s just been phenomenal. We’re going to keep heading up.”
Of course, Tuttle is the one who gets the closest look and most work in with Michigan’s young and emerging playmakers on the second team. Between practice reps and games, no passer on the roster might be more responsible for the current development taking place at wide receiver and on the offense.
“[Semaj Morgan]…that’s kid special. [Karmello English] is special. [Frederick Moore], Ben Hall is great. There are just so many. I can’t name them all right now. There are really good offensive linemen out there. Good tight ends. The defensive guys. There are so many, but I’m proud of those guys for maturing. You don’t see that in a lot of places. I’ll say this, most of the time freshmen don’t look like they’re ready for college games. [Our guys] look like college athletes that can go out there and play for a lot of other teams.
“Definitely proud of them. It has to do a lot with them, right? A lot of the progression starts with them and how mentally they come into it. Are you going to attack the workouts? Are you going to be on time for everything? So that has to do with it. But I also think it has a lot to do with our support staff, our weight room and coaches. Coach Harbaugh does a great job of giving the freshmen more reps and more experience. So that just helps, escalate and just accelerate their growth. It’s awesome.”
Michigan is back in action on Nov. 4 against Purdue at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC at the Big House.
