Michigan football: What Jack Tuttle has learned about J.J. McCarthy
The only Michigan Wolverines football quarterback battle going on this offseason is between the backups, with graduate Jack Tuttle, an Indiana transfer, and junior Davis Warren as the primary competitors.
Tuttle wants to help Michigan win a national championship in whatever role that may be, but he’s also here to push the rest of the quarterbacks, including McCarthy.
“I’m gonna come in and compete,” Tuttle explained. “J.J. has been phenomenal. That whole quarterback room has been great. [Quarterbacks] Coach Kirk [Campbell]. “I’m blessed, honestly blessed, to come into that situation and be around those guys, compete and have fun. I’m gonna do whatever I can to help this team win.”
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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said Tuttle came out “on fire” the first week of spring practices, and McCarthy has been said to have elevated his game as well.
“I wasn’t here last year, obviously, but I think [the Michigan quarterback room has] come a long way, from everything I’ve heard,” Tuttle said. “A lot of improvement overall.
“I’m excited to go out there and rip it and have fun with my guys in the field. Things have been going really well so far.”
McCarthy is one of the unquestioned leaders on the offense now, and after recovering from a shoulder injury last offseason, has the opportunity to build chemistry with his receivers and rest of the team this spring.
“Most people would look at a guy like J.J., a quarterback, a big-time guy,” Tuttle said. “They might think he’s arrogant or something. That dude is the most down-to-earth person. I can’t say this enough — great human being, great football player. I love being around him.
“I’m stoked to be his teammate, and that whole quarterback room, I’m just stoked to be in there. Such good dudes. Really, really love the guy so far. It’s been phenomenal. I can’t wait to see where we go.”
Tuttle saw McCarthy up close and personal when Michigan beat Indiana, 31-10, in Bloomington last October. That was McCarthy’s first 300-yard game of his career.
“I always knew he could spin the ball, for sure,” Tuttle said of what he’s learned about McCarthy since being his teammate. “And as a player I obviously see him on film and in person. Played together, all that stuff. I knew that before and coming in just kind of confirmed he’s a really good football player.
“All of us get to learn stuff from each other and get better from that. Super exciting. The progress in the quarterback room is awesome. It’s great.”
Entering his sixth college football season, Tuttle has plenty of experience at this level. He’s learning from the younger McCarthy, though, and hopes the Michigan starter is doing the same from him.
“There are several things,” Tuttle said of what he’s picked up from McCarthy. “Obviously, Michigan gets under center, does a lot of stuff on offense. Footwork-wise, I’m looking at that. I’m like, ‘Wow, I haven’t really been under center since high school.’
“Looking at his footwork and how he’s progressed over the past couple years and just taking little things that he does and maybe implementing it and some of the other things other guys do — Davis Warren, [sophomore] Alex Orji, some things they do and maybe implement that.”
