It’s not easy to take over as a starting QB midway through the season, but Michigan QB Jack Tuttle’s teammates spoke highly of his leadership and explained why he has instilled confidence into the offense as the Wolverines prepare for Illinois:
Michigan Wolverines’ starting quarterback Jack Tuttle is scheduled to make his first start of the season against the Illinois Fighting Illini this weekend, and the calm demeanor he has, according to teammates, should continue to instill confidence in the offense.
Even though the Wolverines came up short in a loss to the Washington Huskies , Tuttle displayed impressive poise in the huddle and helped spark a comeback. Michigan fullback Max Bredeson described how Tuttle’s impact infused a quiet confidence into the offense and resonated with the players around him.
“He’s calm, collected, and is the same guy every time he steps in the huddle, which is very important to do in football,” Bredeson told the media Tuesday. “No matter what play happened, you have to be the same guy on the next play. He’s played a lot of football and he knows what the people around him need to look like. He’s ready to do the job.”
Tuttle has plenty of experience playing in the Big Ten, so it’s not a surprise his leadership is an improvement from Alex Orji and Davis Warren. Orji started at Washington but failed to find much success. After Tuttle came in, the Wolverines proceeded to score on the next three possessions.
“Guys feel comfortable around him and he’s one of those guys that is a natural leader,” offensive lineman Josh Priebe said. “He was super calm in the huddle and everyone took a deep breath. Everyone has confidence in him. There wasn’t a tense feeling in the huddle. It’s hard to describe, but his demeanor and the way he carries himself allowed that spark to transpire.”
Michigan started to create momentum after Tuttle came into the game, but the offense stalled in the second half and went scoreless in the fourth quarter. It appears Tuttle gives the Wolverines the best chance to win , but there is obviously still room for improvement.
“We were able to move the ball a little bit, but we still need to find ways to be consistent,” running back Kalel Mullings said. “There was some stagnancy at times, so we’re trying to improve that to be the best we can be. Props to Jack because being able to go out there and compete and run an offense with little prep is hard to do. We’ll see how it continues to develop.”
The Wolverines’ new starting quarterback should continue to maintain an even-keeled attitude, which will be essential as Michigan attempts to find an offensive rhythm moving forward. With a critical road trip to Illinois coming up, Tuttle must remain composed in the huddle and set a positive tone for the offense by providing a steady hand.