Indiana Football: Former bluechip quarterback eligible for Hoosiers

Indiana football might not be a major power in the sport, but the Hoosiers upped their odds for success with the immediate eligibility of Utah transfer Jack Tuttle.

Jack Tuttle was a highly sought after quarterback out of San Marcos, California in the 2018 recruiting class. He had 18 offers, ultimately choosing Utah over the likes of Wisconsin, USC and Alabama. The Crimson Tide signed the No. 53 dual threat quarterback prospect, Layne Hatcher, during that class. Tuttle was the No. 8 pro style passer in the country.

Tuttle never got on the field at Utah, backing up Tyler Huntley and Jason Shelley last season. His 2018 year will officially be counted as a redshirt prior to his transfer to Indiana. Rather than sit out a season with the Hoosiers, as is the NCAA’ s so-called policy, Tuttle will be immediately eligible with four years to play.

This eligibility ruling seems less daring than some other notable transfers who’ve been granted the same leniency this offseason. Justin Fields will play at Ohio State. Tate Martell is cleared to suit up at Miami. Tuttle to Indiana will make less waves, but the impact on the program will be significant.

Indiana didn’t have a blue chip recruit in its 2018 class, or in 2017, or in 2016, or in 2015. Their last 4-star signee was wide receiver Dominique Booth in 2014. This caliber of raw talent doesn’t step foot in Bloomington very often, particularly at the quarterback position.

Tuttle is far from a sure thing. He wasn’t able to push through injuries in front of him on the depth chart at Utah and has yet to throw a pass in a collegiate game. The resume is notable, but succeeding in live action is an entirely different task. For now, though, it’s a good day to be a Hoosier. Whether or not Tuttle is able to win the starting job or not, the Indiana quarterback room just got significantly more talented.