Following the 38-33 home loss to Maryland, the Indiana football team looks on to this week's game against Rutgers.
Redshirt senior quarterback Jack Tuttle announced he intends to transfer out of Indiana. After a 2021 season when Tuttle started games in Michael Penix Jr.’s absence, he was relegated to being a backup after losing the quarterback battle in camp this summer. With the current state of the transfer portal, it makes it easier for players such as Tuttle to move on as they no longer have to sit out for a year. Prior to April 28, 2021, athletes were not permitted to compete in their first year after transferring to a new school.
“(Tuttle) came to me, and we talked it through,” Allen said. “We’re not used to this kind of thought process necessarily collegiately, but I do think moving forward you will see more of this. It’s kind of the reality of the new world we’re in with college sports.”
Tuttle will finish out the season with Indiana, walking away with two degrees from the university. Allen said Tuttle hopes to find more playing time after his departure. Tuttle came to Indiana after the 2018 season from the University of Utah as a transfer, so he already has some experience with the process.
Even with his eventual departure, Tuttle will remain the second option as quarterback should anything happen with current starter junior Connor Bazelak.
“I trust Jack, I believe that he has been ready in the past when called upon, and I don’t think that’s going to change,” Allen said.
After the departure of former starting quarterback Michael Penix, Tuttle is now the second quarterback to leave Indiana in two years. Penix is currently having a successful season at the University of Washington with former Indiana offensive coordinator and current Husky head coach Kalen DeBoer. Through seven games, Washington is 5-2 and Penix leads the country with 2,560 passing yards and is fifth in touchdown passes with 20.
While he didn’t transfer, former quarterback and current sophomore receiver Donaven McCulley is another player who didn’t stick at quarterback for the Hoosiers. All three players left or switched positions of their own volition. After Tuttle leaves next spring, it will be interesting to see what steps current third string redshirt sophomore Dexter Williams II takes in the depth chart.
With such a hard schedule, no games are going to be won easily, but Indiana has another even matchup this week against Rutgers. The Hoosiers will be on the road again before facing Penn State at home and Ohio State away at the horseshoe to start November.
With slightly less than half the season remaining and injuries at key positions, the Hoosiers will need to finish strong if a bowl game is still on the agenda.
