Jack Tuttle has seen a lot of quarterbacks throw, and Michigan's Bryce Underwood is 'at the top with the best of them'

Michigan Wolverines football freshman Bryce Underwood has been a phenom since the eighth grade, and he’s closing in on potentially starting his first college game in less than a month if he earns the Wolverines’ quarterback job ahead of the Aug. 30 opener.

Jack Tuttle — the former quarterback who spent the offseason as the assistant wide receivers coach at Michigan but has now moved to sports media — joined the ‘Locked On Wolverines’ podcast with host Isaiah Hole and discussed what he saw from Underwood this spring.

Though he wrapped up his career in 2024, Tuttle played seven years of college football and was actually in the 2018 recruiting class. The No. 1 overall recruit that cycle was quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who threw for 3,280 yards and 30 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions while leading Clemson to the national championship as a freshman. Tuttle saw Lawrence up close and personal, as he did Underwood — the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class — this offseason.

“I would say it’s hard to measure that right now, because the sky’s the limit for that kid,” Tuttle said of Underwood’s potential.

“When I saw him for the first time — I think it was January, February — throw the ball … I’ve seen quite a few QBs throw the ball. I’ve seen Trevor Lawrence — I was at The Opening like 50 years ago with him and [former Georgia and Ohio State quarterback] Justin Fields. I’ve seen all those guys … that was my class. I’ve seen a lot of good football throwers, and I’ve been with Mike Penix at Indiana, obviously J.J. McCarthy here at Michigan.

“And I would say Bryce is at the top with the best of them, and probably throws it better than a lot of those guys — which is scary to say, to be honest, because he’s so young.”

Tuttle wouldn’t cap what Underwood’s stat line could be as a true freshman.

“The sky is the limit with him, and I know that the coaches are going to do whatever it takes to win,” the former Michigan quarterback said. “”So, if that means throwing the ball 40 times a game to win, the ball’s gonna be thrown 40 times a game to win, which is just gonna increase his season stat line. And maybe they’re better at running the ball this year, so we’re just gonna have to see and what kind of strategy that offense kinda takes on each game.”

Tuttle battled injuries last offseason and into the year, started one game and ultimately retired from playing in the middle of the season. Michigan had three different starters and unsteady play behind center in 2024. Tuttle believes health and talent are at a high level heading into the 2025 campaign, though.

“I think a lot can change, and it really starts with the health of the quarterback room and depth,” Tuttle said of how the quarterbacks and offense can take a leap in just one year. “Last year, we had two, three QBs healthy going into spring. There were some issues going on, and I wasn’t healthy at all. 

“I was hurt going into last year — didn’t do spring ball, didn’t do fall camp. I didn’t do any practice during the season until the Washington week, or maybe one prior before that. The week I played in the Washington game was the first time I practiced since the national championship, essentially.

“That kinda just showed me that the health of the quarterback room is super important. You gotta have numbers, which they do this year.

“They’re doing a great job progressing through spring. Those guys got so many reps.”

While a member of the Michigan staff, Tuttle saw the quarterbacks hard at work.

“[Graduate] Jake Garcia, the new addition, and [graduate] Mikey Keene, too, those guys have done a beautiful job this summer, just attacking the process and really preparing themselves for any situation this year — whether they’re the starter or not the starter. All of them have been super great, and Bryce has been good. [Sophomore] Jadyn [Davis] has been attacking the process, as well. [Graduate] Davis [Warren] is attacking his rehab and is getting closer every single day. So, super excited for those guys.”