Michigan’s quarterback room will now feature a 7th year veteran with a lot of experience under his belt, and that’s a great thing for the football program as it looks to find a replacement for JJ McCarthy.
On Sunday, Jack Tuttle subtlety announced on twitter that he was granted a 7th year of eligibility, an announcement that was later confirmed by several sources within Michigan media circles.
To be clear, Tuttle’s return does not guarantee that he’ll earn the starting job in Ann Arbor this fall. He’ll certainly have to battle for that title with a handful of other talented guys who are eager to assert themselves in that role. However, Tuttle’s return does guarantee that Michigan will have a veteran presence in a room full of inexperienced quarterbacks who have a ton of potential.
Here’s a detailed look at Michigan’s presumptive QB room in 2024:
Jack Tuttle – Graduate Student
- Indiana (2019-22): 104-of-182, 901 YDS, 5 TD, 6 INT
- Michigan (2023): 15-of-17, 130 YDS, 1 TD, 0 INT
Alex Orji – Junior
- Michigan (2022-23): 1-of-1, 5 YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT
Jayden Denegal – Junior
- Michigan (2022-23): 4-of-5, 50 YDS, 1 TD, 0 INT
Davis Warren – Senior
- Michigan (2021-23): 5-of-14, 89 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT
Jadyn Davis – Freshman
- N/A
Based on the numbers alone, it would appear that Tuttle is already the runaway favorite to win the starting job this fall. He’s got more career production across the board than all of his competitors combined, and having a veteran QB bridge the gap between McCarthy and the next long-term starter feels like it could be the smartest (or safest) play. At the same time, the ceiling is higher with guys like Orji, Denegal, and even with true freshman Jadyn Davis – but so is the risk.
As the Wolverines look to sort out the quarterback picture through the spring and into the fall, there’s no question that having a 7th year veteran QB is a luxury for a room with so much inexperience. Not only does Tuttle provide a safety net for the Wolverines at the QB position, but his presence and experience will also be critical for the development of the guys around him.
