Written by Zach Greene (@zgreene650)

Second-string sophomore Quarterback Jack Tuttle, out of San Marcos, California, strives to get better despite knowing he won’t have the starting gig. At some point All-Big Ten quarterback Michael Penix will be back and Tuttle, who filled in admirably last season and started in the Hoosiers’ win at Wisconsin and in the 26-20 loss to Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl, will be back to second string. By the way Tuttle played nearly the entire bowl game with a separated throwing shoulder.

“It takes a special person. It speaks to his character. It speaks to the way he was raised by his parents. The ability to truly be a selfless guy.” stated Tom Allen during a press conference this past Wednesday.

Tuttle took over for the injured Penix this past season and played in three games, performing well. He threw for a solid 61.1 completion percentage, 362 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

A four-star transfer from Utah, Tuttle came to Bloomington knowing that he would not have the starting job. He knew he would have to wait and continue to fine-tune his game. While it could have been easy for him to enter the transfer again like the hundreds if not thousands of players, he decided to stay.

Allen knows and sees the determination in the young quarterback going to the extent of giving him the LEO award. “That's why he won the LEO award for the whole team to end the season at our banquet a few weeks ago.”

While the award is lovely, this is not good enough for the young man. He wants to get better and help his supporting cast get better while Penix continues to rehab from a torn ACL. A guy like Tuttle defines this team and speaks to the type of players that Tom Allen recruits. “It goes back to finding guys that fit with your culture,” stated Allen.

With injuries to Penix and third-string quarterback Dexter Williams, Tuttle received more practice reps with the first and second teamers than would have been expected and with that Tuttle showed growth,

“Jack really grew, you know when anytime you just have more opportunities to get reps and study film.” All explained.

Even though he is a defensive coach Tom Allen spends most of his time in two position rooms, the linebackers and quarterbacks. So he has seen that growth first hand.

“Sitting in those meetings just knowledge of our system for Jack, continuing to recognize pressures by defenses. The things that you're looking for, you know, getting the protections right getting the run calls right, getting us in the right call. Those two examples there are as probably the two most critical ones as you know. The protection piece is probably number one and then number two is if you can be able to manipulate information to get the right run that you want, you know, per the depth of set you're seeing so I just think just those reps that understanding that confidence to be able to do that.” Allen said.

Allen also spoke about how much Tuttle loves Bloomington and the team. “He loves this place. He has special love for this team.”

The love for the city, his team, and his supporting casts speak to the team motto. LOVE EACH OTHER. As spring ball ended players like Tuttle is why so many fans love Tom Allen and this program.

That love allowed Tuttle to grow as a player even though IU’s ‘Plan A’ is to have Penix under center for game one in Iowa City.

The Huddle

Backup-QB Jack Tuttle Shows Resiliency Knowing He Does Not Have the Starting Job

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