As the 2024 football season is set to begin against Fresno State (NBC, 7:34 p.m.), Michigan has yet to announce its starting quarterback. However, it has been confirmed that Jack Tuttle, the seventh-year graduate who served as backup to J.J. McCarthy last season, will not be in contention. Tuttle has been listed as “out” in the Big Ten’s pregame availability report, which is mandatory for all member schools to release two hours before kickoff.
Tuttle is one of three Wolverines ruled out for the season opener. Safety Rod Moore is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during early spring practice, while senior wide receiver Joe Taylor, a graduate of local Chelsea High School, is sidelined for undisclosed reasons.
During the spring, Tuttle participated in a three-man quarterback competition that eventually narrowed down to Alex Orji and Davis Warren. Having sustained some injuries, Tuttle, who has expressed aspirations to coach in the future, is recognized for his intellect on the field and his prior starting experience at the Big Ten level.
Now in his second year at Michigan, Tuttle has mostly been a backup for current NFL rookies Michael Penix Jr. from Indiana and, of course, McCarthy. Despite not being a starter, he is still the most experienced quarterback in the Wolverines’ roster. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound player from San Marcos, California has completed 119 of 199 passes (59.9%) for 1,031 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions. While those figures are modest, he showed effectiveness in limited appearances last season before an injury. In his first year at Michigan, Tuttle completed 15 of 17 passes (88.2%) for 130 yards and one touchdown.
The other quarterbacks on the team have collectively thrown just 20 passes. Moore praised Tuttle during the offseason, stating, “He’s been great. 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.”
With Tuttle out, either Orji or Warren will take the starting position, while the other will likely become the backup.