2020 Position Preview – Quarterbacks
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Michael Penix Image: Indiana University Athletics
Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
Hoosier Huddle is breaking down each position group prior to the 2020 season. Today, we look at the most influential and consequential position in football: quarterbacks.
Michael Penix Jr. - #9 – 6’3”/218 pounds – Redshirt Sophomore
Michael Penix Image: Indiana University Athletics
The undisputed starting quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers is redshirt sophomore Michael Penix Jr. The third-year player from Tampa, Florida, showed a glimpse of his talent in 2018 before tearing his ACL against Penn State. Penix bounced back and won the starting job over Peyton Ramsey and he took the field to begin the 2019 season as the starting quarterback. After starting the first six games of the campaign, completing 110 of 160 passes with ten touchdowns and four interceptions and posting the best single-season completion percentage mark, Penix hurt his right sternoclavicular joint against Northwestern. He tried to continue but it was clear something was not right and Peyton Ramsey finished the blowout victory. Penix was unable to play again in the 2019 season. The two season-ending injuries are the biggest concern surrounding IU’s quarterback. Michael Penix has spent the past 11 months getting bigger and stronger. He has added sixteen pounds to his frame and is ready to take on the challenges of the Big Ten.
“Just get bigger so I can embrace the hits. I’ve got to be out there for my guys. Find ways to make plays all the time,” Penix told the media at the beginning of October.
IU needs Penix to stay healthy and fully realize the potential he obviously has. He has a huge arm and accuracy is not a problem. The only real on-field issue is going to be how Penix meshes with some receivers that are either new (Rashawn Williams, Javon Swinton, David Baker) or are entering into larger roles. New offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan knows his strengths and the offense has been kept largely intact. Michael Penix is ready to take the next step and bring the Indiana program with him. “We’ll come out and dominate. This team is ready for the big games. I feel we’re going to shock the world. I know we will.”
Jack Tuttle - #14 – 6’4”/215 pounds – Redshirt Sophomore
Jack Tuttle (14) and the rest of the Indiana quarterbacks Image: Indiana University Athletics
After a true freshman season lost as a transfer and a redshirt freshman season largely lost to illness, Jack Tuttle is healthy and ready to contribute. Now a redshirt sophomore, the former 4-star recruit from California is the clear backup to Michael Penix Jr. Tuttle is a big quarterback that moves well in the pocket and he is capable of making plays with his legs and his arm. By all accounts, he looked terrific during the abbreviated spring practices and given Penix’s injury history and the bizarre nature of the 2020 season, Tuttle will need to stay sharp as he could become a critical component of IU’s campaign at any moment.
Dexter Williams - #5 – 6’1”/208 pounds – Freshman
There is some level of stability in the top two quarterback slots for the Hoosiers. Michael Penix looks like a potential star and Jack Tuttle is a very talented back up that we’ve seen enough of in practices to feel okay about him as an option. The third-string entering the season is more of an unknown. A true freshman from Georgia, Dexter Williams is a terrific athlete that has impressed coaches with his ability to make difficult throws look very routine. He’ll need to work on consistency and IU is certainly hoping they do not need to throw Williams into the fire but there has been a general feeling that the freshman is ahead of where he was expected to be at this point in time. Penix and Tuttle are redshirt sophomores and a very highly-touted quarterback (Donavan McCulley) will be on the squad next season so it will be interested to see where Williams ultimately fits.
The Walk-Ons
Indiana has a trio of redshirt freshmen walk-on quarterbacks that round out the position group. Zack Merrill is 5’11” and hails from Hobart, Indiana. Merrill is the shortest of the quarterbacks but he was a two-time captain and all-conference player for Andrean High School. Grant Gremel is a 6’3” player from Noblesville High School in central Indiana. He was a teammate of three other current Hoosiers. Finally, Will Jontz is 6’3” and came to Indiana after starring at Brighton High School in Michigan. Jontz is a very good athlete, lettering in three different sports and setting a school record in the 4X200 relay. He won the scout team player of the week twice during the 2019 season.