We look at the possibility of Tuttle being named Michigan’s QB1.
J.J. McCarthy went 27-1 as Michigan’s starting quarterback. Whoever’s named McCarthy’s successor will have big shoes to fill. McCarthy was an integral part of Michigan’s National Championship run and one of the biggest leaders on the team and was selected No. 9 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in this year’s NFL Draft .
At Big Ten Media Day, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore made it clear what he’s looking for in Michigan’s QB1 this fall.
“The number one thing we’re looking for out of any guy that is our starting quarterback is, one, that they’re a playmaker. That they can make plays, that they’ll make the right decision,” Moore explained. “They can take care of the football. And they want to win, they’ll do anything for the team to win. We’ll look for those attributes, and then we’ll go from there.”
The top contenders for the starting spot include Jack Tuttle, Alex Orji, and Davis Warren.
Moore noted that every quarterback “has their own traits” that make them different.
One trait that Jack Tuttle has more of than any other quarterback on the roster is experience. 2024 is Tuttle’s seventh collegiate campaign. Tuttle transferred to Michigan last season after spending four years at Indiana and his freshman year at Utah State. Tuttle’s IU career featured a completion percentage of 57.1 with 901 passing yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. Tuttle backed up Michael Penix Jr. at one point during his IU career before Penix transferred to Washington.
Tuttle played sparingly at Michigan last season as McCarthy’s backup but was highly productive when he saw action. Tuttle completed 15-of-17 pass attempts for 130 yards with one passing touchdown and 35 rushing yards.
Tuttle, 25, stands 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, received praise from Moore on Thursday.
“He’s been great,” Moore said. “He’s been accurate. He’s been throwing it hard. Physical. Fast. And he looks good. Jack’s had the unfortunate favor of being behind Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy. He’s excited, to say the least. Watching him compete and we’re ready to see what happens.”
Moore was asked if the quarterback competition could drag into the season or if two quarterbacks could be utilized like back in 2021 when Cade McNamara received the majority of snaps and J.J. McCarthy came in as a dual-threat counterpart. While Tuttle and Alex Orji could wind up being in that same type of construct, Moore didn’t divulge Michigan’s plans and said they’ll put the best 11 players on the field.
Orji has been electric as a running quarterback throughout his Michigan career and has been trusted in big moments against Ohio State as well as Alabama in the Rose Bowl . However, Orji hasn’t attempted many passes in live action. Orji has 21 rushing attempts in his career for 123 yards and three touchdowns but has attempted just one pass through two seasons, a five-yard completion.
Tuttle was injured during spring practices and will enter fall camp fully healthy with some rust to knock off. The month of August will be huge for Tuttle, a former captain at Indiana in 2022. If Tuttle shows mastery of Michigan’s playbook, continues being a leader for Michigan’s offense, and takes care of the football in practice, he could enter the season as Michigan’s starter against Fresno State, a team Michigan’s favored to beat by 21 points. The key date Michigan needs to have cohesion at quarterback and a solidified starter comes Week 2 when the Wolverines face Texas at Michigan Stadium.
Tuttle told Anthony Broome of The Wolverine this week that he feels Michigan’s QB room is underrated and called the group “fantastic.” Although Michigan’s quarterbacks support one another they all would love to be the starter, and Tuttle knows what must be done if he’s to be No. 1.
“Throwing completions, taking care of the ball, leading the team the best you can,” Tuttle said. “That’s how you attack it. That’s how I attacked it last year. I’m just going to dive into the film and keep improving and go out there and rip it. I think that competition breeds greatness and we all accept that and it’s going to bring the best out of us.”
If Michigan can get steady play from the quarterback position this fall there’s a strong possibility they’ll make the College Football Playoff for the fourth season in a row. Despite losing key contributors on both sides of the ball, Michigan returns top-tier talent on offense and defense and their goals of championships are still in reach. When the 2024 season concludes there is a possibility that Tuttle could be someone who flew under the radar nationally heading into the year but then sees his draft stock heavily ascend if he becomes the starter and lets it rip in productive fashion.