Is there a chance Jack Tuttle applies for a 6th year & comes back?

Submitted by 907_UM Nanook on January 5th, 2024 at 4:43 PM

With Taulia applying for another season, and our former QB now at Oklahoma State - Alan Bowman receiving a 7th year of eligibility, would anyone see a possibility of Jack Tuttle having a chance to receive another year & potentially act as bridge QB for Jadyn & Carter in 2024?

I see we totally burned his redshirt this year playing him in parts of 6 games (including the kneel down against Purdue). But is there a chance?

https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/jack-tuttle/24429

ShoelacesFlapp…

January 5th, 2024 at 4:46 PM ^

Even if he gets a waiver and with all respect to his contributions to the team, there's no way he'd be an adequate starter next year if that's what you meant (as opposed to just a mentor to Jadyn).

MRunner73

January 5th, 2024 at 6:24 PM ^

What about Alex Orji? OK, Orji is not a starter for a reason. I wonder if he isn't the real QB2 at this late stage on the QB roster. 

I hope that I am not buying too much in the coach speak on well Orji practiced before the Rose Bowl.

If any QB on the roster can bridge the gap in 2024, it would be Orji. I'd hate to think that Orji transfers and becomes a big star on some other team, like say Penix.

AlbanyBlue

January 6th, 2024 at 2:22 PM ^

Can we stop with the Orji stuff? I'm sure he has potential, but he hasn't thrown a pass in a live game yet. 

If JJ doesn't stay and Tuttle doesn't return and Harbaugh stays as coach, it's a portal QB or it's Denegal -- so I think it'll be a portal QB. If there is one out there. Warren looked in live action like he has regressed, but Denegal looked alright. It's not a good situation if we can't find someone in the portal, though, because Harbaugh will under no circumstances roll with Jadyn as the starter. Not as a true frosh.

s1105615

January 5th, 2024 at 4:52 PM ^

Sure he could.  Will he?  Doubtful.  Even if he does apply will it be granted?  If Jim is still here the ncaa denies it without even reading it.

sharklover

January 5th, 2024 at 5:08 PM ^

Rudock was the best QB of the harbaugh era pre JJ. Excellent command of the offense, and great touch on deep balls. He had a great season here. I would be shocked if tuttle had that level of playing ability. If he did, he wouldn't have transferred into a school where he was destined for a backup role.

sharklover

January 5th, 2024 at 5:32 PM ^

Apparently I only remembered the good parts of that season. I just went back and checked his stats. Didn't look nearly as good as I thought. I guess the relief of the end of the Brady Hoke era elevated the success and productivity of that season in my memory. 

 

I forgot that we played four non conference games back then.

AlbanyBlue

January 5th, 2024 at 5:49 PM ^

Nope, not as good. Not good at all. And IIRC, it was another situation where the passing game was kept "safe" -- throws to the outside and then deep balls, with very little over the middle and virtually nothing at the deeper middle levels. 

JJ throwing to the intermediate and deeper middle is/was a revelation. More in 2022 than this year though....

OuldSod

January 5th, 2024 at 5:49 PM ^

I'm not sure this is true. I think it is likely, but it is also an unknown. 

After so many injuries and being on losing teams, it's also possible Tuttle recognized that someone like Rudock only got a cup of coffee in the NFL. Tuttle is smart. He already had an MBA in finance. He appears focused on what is after football. 

Michigan gave him a chance to get another graduate degree in Social Work - best in the country. Harbaugh also valued his desire to create an option to try coaching. I don't know what promises were made there - grad assistant at UM or just a referral within Harbaugh's network - but these things can trump playing time after being hurt and on losing teams. That doesn't make him less competitive or talented. It makes him strategic. Why give that up to play? Playing may be once in a lifetime, but maybe he values his lifetime over that once in a moment. 

This is where Michigan is advantaged in the portal: good culture, winning program, great graduate degrees, Harbaugh coaching network. That should be very appealing to UDFA caliber talent. A lot of those people will recognize their NFL opportunity is limited and seek to maximize long term opportunities. It's not just credit acceptance that determines Michigan's portal strategy. They clearly use their institutional advantages to target grad students.  

JonnyHintz

January 5th, 2024 at 4:59 PM ^

I see we totally burned his redshirt
 

He already used a redshirt, so we didn’t burn anything. There was an article out a few days ago that mentioned the possibility of him applying for a waiver.

https://www.on3.com/teams/michigan-wolverines/news/michigan-qb-jack-tuttle-may-not-be-done-at-u-m-just-yet/

It’s paywalled and I don’t have a sub, so I don’t know the details but it’s been discussed. He seems like he would have a strong case for a waiver after suffering a season ending injury after 1 game a few years ago. 

The Truth Hurts

January 5th, 2024 at 5:22 PM ^

I rather move along and go with Denegal Orgi  Davis and Warren.   Our offense not to hard to run so anyone should be able to run it.  Plus we can run Orgi more with his size.

EGD

January 5th, 2024 at 10:47 PM ^

There is a distinct possibility that Jack Tuttle is the second-best QB on the current roster. Indeed, he probably is. Why we would not want him back for 2024 if possible is beyond me. If someone else improves and beats him out, or M brings in a better transfer, great—Tuttle would still have value as a backup. And I can’t imagine any potential portal options would be scared off by his presence.

mackbru

January 5th, 2024 at 7:11 PM ^

Barring injury, there’s no chance M goes with Tuttle as QB1 next year. It will either be JJ or a transfer. And there’s no way a true freshman will start.