The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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30 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2023 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL INDIANA TRANSFER DUO IMPRESSING EARLY Michigan coaches needed to beef up the quarterback room in the offseason af- ter Cade McNamara transferred to Iowa, so they set out to find someone with ex- perience and leadership skills. They didn't have to look far — in their own conference and division, in fact. When it became clear Indiana's Jack Tuttle was looking for a change of scen- ery, running backs coach Mike Hart was on it, having had a prior relationship with the quarterback from his time there. He was also responsible for bringing former IU captain and tight end AJ Barner with him, a duo that's playing well this spring. Tuttle arrived with only one immedi- ate goal, he said — to help Michigan win a national championship. Whether it's as a backup, third string, or if he sees the field, he's intent on playing his role to the best of his ability. "There are a lot of reasons I came here. I had a lot of good connections. … I've known Coach Hart for a long time, Coach Harbaugh," Tuttle said this spring. "They're obviously phenomenal, doing a great job. I felt comfortable coming in with them. Obviously, the facilities, strength staff — those guys are amazing. Those are all pluses to it. "But when we get down to it, the rea- son I wanted to come here was No. 1, to help Michigan win a national champion- ship, and do everything I can to help that happen. Right now, that's the only rea- son. There are other reasons I did come, but that's the only reason I'm here and what I'm focused on as of now. … The other reasons are in the future." He and former walk-on Davis Warren are in a battle for No. 2, and Tuttle's im- proved athleticism has a lot to do with it. "My style has really developed over my career," Tuttle said. "At the begin- ning, in high school, I was probably more of a passer, and over my career through strength coach [Aaron] Wellman at Indi- ana and Coach [Ben] Herbert, I've been able to develop quite a bit more speed. I'm getting my 40 down, my body better. … "I'm now more a dual-threat quar- terback. I'll get my 40 down to 4.5, 4.6. … I kind of have that tough, hard-nosed mindset, kind of like Andrew Luck. That's always who I looked up to growing up. That's kind of who my play style reflects, I believe." Barner, meanwhile, was a huge get after captain Erick All left for Iowa, as well. The Wolverines needed help at the position to complement budding star and sophomore Colston Loveland and others, and they got it when Barner arrived. Barner caught 28 passes for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns last year, but that doesn't begin to measure his contribu- tion. He was an outstanding leader in Bloomington and a mauler at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds who takes every rep seriously. "He's an absolute beast baller," Tuttle said of his teammate. "A hard-nosed kid, just a great leader, too — a captain at Indi- ana with me. That kid will sell out. "That's one of the most important qual- ities to have as a football player. That kid would sell his left arm to win a football Quarterback Jack Tuttle transferred from Indiana, and the Hoosiers' captain arrived with only one goal: to help U-M win a national championship. PHOTO COURTESY INDIANA ATHLETICS