Indiana University Athletics
‘Confident’ Tuttle Ready for Outback Bowl Opportunity
12/31/2020 8:17:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Butterflies? Of course, Jack Tuttle will get them. For one, he's not a robot. For two, bowl games will do that to you, especially one with all the implications Saturday's Outback Bowl will have for Indiana.
But first-game-as-a-starting-quarterback jitters?
Those are over.
Jack Tuttle's college baptism of starting fire at No. 16 Wisconsin, and the experience it provides, bodes well for the No. 7 Hoosiers (6-1).
"That Wisconsin game helped me improve so much," he says via Zoom press conference. "I gained so much confidence."
Confidence is crucial at every position, especially at quarterback, which requires so much in terms of execution, poise, leadership and toughness.
"It is not about this being my first start or getting my feet wet," Tuttle says. "It's about playing football. It's about improving from that game and prepping for Ole Miss (4-5). We just get to go play football."
That's exactly what head coach Tom Allen wants to hear.
"He always throws well, but as he's been in that (starting) role, you see more high-level confidence," Allen says.
When we last saw the 6-4, 215-pound Tuttle, he was leading IU to a 14-6 victory at Wisconsin, something that hadn't happened for the Hoosiers since 2001.
Tuttle was efficient on that Dec. 5 day, going 13-for-22 for 130 yards and two touchdowns against a rugged defense.
He played because starter Michael Penix Jr. had a season-ending ACL injury the previous week in a win against Maryland. Tuttle's end-of-game action against the Terrapins had him go 5-for-5 for 31 yards.
That was impressive because he hadn't played much until that point. It helped set him up for Wisconsin success.
"It's always a great thing to have your last experience of playing and starting like it was at Wisconsin," Allen says, "and the way we played and were able to finish that game and get a big road win against a ranked opponent.
"It was huge for him, huge for his confidence. I think he will carry that into the bowl game."
Tuttle, an Academic all-Big Ten student-athlete, has had a big college adjustment since his dominating California high school days, when he generated Top-5 quarterback recruiting accolades while throwing for 69 touchdowns and more than 7,000 yards in his career.
He went to Utah for a season and never played. He transferred to IU last year and saw limited action (6-for-11 for 34 yards, 9 rushes for 20 yards) behind Penix and Peyton Ramsey.
Despite the lack of playing time, he never pouted and always prepared as if he was starting. When Penix went down and he had to step up, he was ready for the challenge.
"He has worked extremely hard and prepared at a high level," Allen says. "He is a very good player. That is why we recruit, why we develop, and why he came to Indiana."
The four-week gap since the Hoosiers game – caused by a COVID-19 outbreak that cost them two games – is part of what has been a unique and challenging season for everyone.
"The more you play, the better it is," Allen says, "but you cannot control any of that. You can't change any of it."
One change IU can make is end its five-bowl losing streak and get its first postseason win since the 1991 Copper Bowl.
"Winning a bowl game is super important to us," Tuttle says. "We want to finish the season strong.
"We are fighting and doing everything we can to be in the best possible situation to get the win."
It helps that Tuttle will have an All-American wide receiver to throw to in Ty Fryfogle.
"He is great," Tuttle says. "He makes my life a whole lot easier. He is a special player. I am really looking forward to making some plays with him and having some fun."
Fryfogle is one of three Hoosiers to receive All-America honors, the first time that's happened since 2007, when receiver James Hardy, defensive end Greg Middleton and kicker Austin Starr were so honored.
Sophomore cornerback Tiawan Mullen is the latest Hoosier to earn All-America acclaim, this from the Football Writers Association of America. Mullen is the first IU cornerback to earn first-team status. Tim Wilbur was a second-team choice in 1980.
Linebacker Micah McFadden also was named All-American.
Last year's 23-22 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl loss to Tennessee provided a painful lesson the Hoosiers have learned, Tuttle says.
"It was a motivating factor. It has pushed us to get better and grow."
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