Jack Tuttle never played a down for the University of Utah, but he could have an impact on the college football postseason this year.
That’s because Tuttle is taking over at quarterback for No. 12 Indiana, after Hoosiers coach Tom Allen confirmed Monday that starting quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., tore his ACL and is out for the season.
What can Tuttle’s past tell us about his ability to fill in at a critical position for the Hoosiers?
His connection to Utah
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound native of San Marcos, California, committed to Kyle Whittingham’s program in December 2016 following his junior year at Mission Hills High. The Elite 11 finalist stayed committed to the Utes despite other offers and enrolled early, joining the team in spring 2018. Tuttle was rated the No. 4 pro style quarterback of the 2018 class by Rivals (No. 5 by 247 Sports).
Whittingham was complimentary of Tuttle on the first day of spring camp 2018. “He’s very schooled up on the offense,” Whittingham said. “He’s spent a lot of time in the offseason — during these last couple of months — studying the offense, and today he looked like he felt very comfortable.”
Halfway through the 2018 season, though, Tuttle sought to transfer after losing the backup quarterback battle to Jason Shelley, behind starter Tyler Huntley. He never played a snap for the Utes.
Departure to Indiana
Tuttle landed at the Big Ten’s Indiana, and he was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA for the 2019 season, per the Indianapolis Star. Last year, Tuttle saw action in five games playing behind Penix, then a redshirt freshman, and Peyton Ramsey, who left to Northwestern this year as a grad transfer. Tuttle completed 6 of 11 passes for 34 yards while picking up 20 rushing yards on nine carries in 2019.
Penix led Indiana to a 5-1 record as a starter this season, including last Saturday’s 27-11 win over Maryland, when he was injured late in the third quarter. Tuttle stepped in and completed all five of his passes for 31 yards against the Terrapins.
In addition to finishing off a touchdown drive that gave the Hoosiers a 17-3 lead — Penix was hurt on a 21-yard run to the Maryland 3 — Tuttle led two scoring drives (for a touchdown and a field goal) in the fourth quarter.
How this could impact the Hoosiers … and perhaps BYU
Indiana, meanwhile, was ranked No. 12 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season released last week. BYU, off to its first 9-0 start since 2001, came in at No. 14 in the first edition of the CFP rankings.
How Indiana finishes the year could have an impact on the Cougars, who weren’t expected to seriously contend for a spot in the CFP — especially after coming in 10 spots out of the playoff in the initial rankings — but who may still have a shot at an at-large berth in a New Year’s Six bowl.
The Hoosiers, too, are well within the NY6 discussion — Indiana’s lone loss, at Ohio State, likely puts them out of the talk of winning the Big Ten title, though the Buckeyes are one COVID-19-related cancellation away from being ineligible for the league championship.
As of now, BYU has one lone game remaining — Dec. 12 at home against San Diego State.
Indiana has two regular-season games left to play, plus a third TBD matchup during the week of Dec. 19, aka Big Ten Champions Week. The Hoosiers play at No. 16 Wisconsin on Saturday before a home game against Purdue on Dec. 12.
Tuttle will get his first college start against the Badgers.
“I know that he has not played a lot here, but he has a big-time arm and has tremendous football instincts and football IQ. He is extremely bright, but his greatest quality is his work ethic,” Allen said of Tuttle.