Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 14 Days (Jack Tuttle)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Ladies and gentlemen, we are only two weeks away from the season opener for the Indiana Hoosiers! After a long and often uncertain offseason, IU will finally be taking the field and battling the Penn State Nittany Lions. Today’s Hoosier Huddle Countdown profile is an extremely important player that IU hopes they don’t end up needing to rely on this season: backup quarterback Jack Tuttle.

Name – Jack Tuttle

Position – Quarterback (Redshirt Sophomore)

Hometown –San Marcos, California (Mission Hills High School)

Height – 6’4”

Weight – 215

Jack Tuttle followed an unlikely path to wind up back in Indiana. His father, Jay, was a walk-on kicker at Indiana from 1986 to 1988 and his mother, Kathy, graduated from Indiana State. The two gave birth to Jack in Indianapolis in April of 1999. The family moved to California and Jack was raised on the West Coast. He developed as a young quarterback and started at Mission Hills High School. Tuttle was ranked as the number four pro-style quarterback in the country and was a four-star prospect coming out of San Diego County. His senior year saw him throw for 3,171 yards with 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Tuttle earned a spot in the Elite 11 Finals and The Opening, a pair of events for the country’s top high school quarterbacks. He chose to commit to Utah but quickly felt it was not for him and transferred after a 2018 season in which he saw no action. Tuttle was familiar with the IU program and with the area and he chose to become a Hoosier prior to the 2019 season.

He joined a roster with Peyton Ramsey and Michael Penix and was in the thick of a quarterback competition when he fell ill with mononucleosis. The illness zapped him of strength and caused him to lose weight. In addition, it put him firmly in third place on the depth chart and kept him out of practice for an extended period of time. Tuttle still saw action in five games, going 6 of 11 for 34 yards.

“I think Jack has come miles since he’s been here,” IU offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said in a Zoom conference last week. “I think he’s gained the trust and confidence of his teammates and continues to get better and better.”

Jack Tuttle is finally healthy and has had plenty of time in the program. By all accounts, he looked tremendous in the abbreviated spring practices and he is firmly in place right behind starter Michael Penix. IU coaches and fans certainly hope that Michael Penix plays great, fulfills his potential and stays healthy. If he does, we likely won’t see Jack Tuttle much this season. If recent history has been any indication though, particularly in this very bizarre 2020 season, multiple quarterbacks being used in a season would not be a shock. If called upon, Jack Tuttle should be ready to help lead his team to victory.