As the 2024 football season is set to commence against Fresno State tonight, Michigan football has yet to finalize its starting quarterback. However, it has been confirmed that Jack Tuttle will not be taking the field. The seventh-year graduate and former backup to J.J. McCarthy has been marked as “out” on the Big Ten’s pregame availability report, which is mandated to be released two hours prior to kickoff.
Tuttle is among three Wolverines sidelined for the season opener. Safety Rod Moore is recovering from a torn ACL suffered during spring practice, while senior wide receiver Joe Taylor, a local standout from Chelsea High School, is out due to an undisclosed issue.
The graduate quarterback has faced some injuries in the spring during a competitive phase that narrowed the starting spot down to either Alex Orji or Davis Warren. Known for his intelligence on the field, Tuttle has openly expressed his desire to pursue a coaching career in the future. He brings a wealth of experience, having backed up players who are now NFL rookies, including Michael Penix Jr. at Indiana and, of course, McCarthy.
Tuttle, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 211 pounds, has a college passing record of 119 completions on 199 attempts (59.9%) for a total of 1,031 yards, with six touchdowns and six interceptions. While these statistics may not be remarkable, he showed promise in limited playing time last season before sustaining an injury, and in his first year at Michigan, he completed 15 of 17 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown.
With Tuttle out, the quarterback duties will likely fall to either Orji or Warren, with the individual who does not get the starting role likely serving as the primary backup. Moore praised Tuttle’s performance this offseason, noting his accuracy and physicality as strengths, while expressing excitement about the upcoming competition for the starting spot.