2021 Indiana Hoosiers Quarterback Spring Practice Preview

Jack Tuttle will be QB1 in Spring Practice Image: Indiana University Athletics

2021 Quarterback Position Preview

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

If the Indiana quarterback room can get healthy over the offseason, next year should be one of the deepest pools of talent in program history. I can’t remember the last time that the Hoosiers had a roster with four different quarterbacks on scholarship – certainly not one where all four on the depth chart are projected to be so talented. This is definitely a testament to the recruiting that Tom Allen and his staff have done, building a roster that can compete on the field at the highest level while also utilizing the added depth as quality scout team members in practice.

Michael Penix Jr, Redshirt Junior, 6’3” 218 Pounds

Much of Indiana’s offseason will revolve around the health of star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Penix electrified the college football world last season before ultimately tearing his ACL in the win against Maryland. He started all six games before the injury and racked up plenty of accolades: one of seventeen finalists for the Davey O’Brien Award, second-team All-Big Ten, Maxwell Award Watch List, and the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week against Michigan and Ohio State.

As of last week, Penix described his rehab as “on schedule, if not a little bit ahead of schedule.” He expects not to participate in spring at all, but he hopes to be back by fall camp. For now, his focus is on continuing to gain strength and improve as a leader.

“At the beginning, I was kind of down, but just getting help from my family, friends and teammates, they kept me up, kept me positive. This is something I do not wish on anybody and nobody wishes they were in this position, but having them on my side, pushing me every single day, telling me to stay motivated and to continue to chase my dream, that was really helpful,” said Penix.

“Right now, where I am at now, I am very positive. I love where I am at now, and I like the growth that I have had since the injury. I am very excited to just go out and do what I can to get back on the field with the guys.”

Indiana fans will also look forward to his return and continue to monitor his health, as the Hoosiers are 10-2 when Penix starts.

Jack Tuttle, Redshirt Junior, 6’4” 215 Pounds

The man that came to save the day for the Hoosiers after Penix went down to injury was Jack Tuttle, a transfer from Utah. Tuttle started the final two games and played in the final three, going 44-of-72 for 362 yards and two touchdowns. His biggest game came in his first career start, when he threw for two touchdowns on the road victory against Wisconsin. He was named IU offensive player of the game that game and was an Academic All-Big Ten selection at the end of the season.

When we last saw Tuttle he had separated his shoulder in the bowl game against Ole Miss. He will also be tasked with getting fully healthy in the offseason as he will serve as the backup quarterback, a position that has seen lots of action in the Hoosiers’ past couple seasons.

Dexter Williams, Redshirt Freshman, 6’0” 210 Pounds

Indiana fans will remember Dexter Williams from this past year’s Wisconsin game. After Tuttle took a hit to the head and was taken back to the locker room, Williams was warming up on the sidelines for his first collegiate action. Fortunately, both for Williams and Hoosier fans, Williams was not thrown out there just yet.

“Dex will be a great player, but he’s not quite ready,” said Coach Allen after that game.

This is not at all a testament to how the staff feels about Dexter Williams, however. The dual-threat quarterback from Georgia has shown plenty to the staff so far to be excited about in the future, just not yet. He was a 3-star ranked prospect in the 2019 class and the 34th best dual-threat QB in the class by 247Sports. He saw no playing time in 2020 but continues to develop. He’ll likely serve as Indiana’s 3rd string this season, as long as Tuttle and Penix can stay healthy. He’s also shown the athleticism to play other spots on the field if Allen’s staff feels they need to move him where he can provide even more value in the future.

Additional Depth:

Zack Merrill, Redshirt Sophomore, 5’11” 209 Pounds: Andrean High School, walk-on joined the program in 2019 fall camp, scout team player of the week against Michigan in 2019 and 2020

Grant Gremel, Redshirt Sophomore, 6’3” 199 Pounds: Noblesville High School, walk-on joined the program in 2019 fall camp, scout team player of the week against Maryland in 2020

Will Jontz, Redshirt Sophomore, 6’3” 221 Pounds: Brighton High School in Brighton, Michigan… walk-on joined the program in 2019 fall camp, scout team player of the week against Ball State and Nebraska (2019) and Ohio State (2020)