Michigan coach Sherrone Moore started quarterback Alex Orji against Washington, but the Wolverines fell behind 14-0 and couldn’t move the ball with him. Needing a spark, Moore turned to 7^th-year senior Jack Tuttle, who was finally healthy after a setback following offseason surgery. 

It didn’t take him long to make an impact. Tuttle quickly led a touchdown drive, and though most of it came on the ground, the threat of a pass opened the field a bit. It was 14-10 at half after he led a field goal drive, and the Wolverines came all the way back and took a 17-14 lead to start the second half on a drive in which he had some critical throws. 

At the end of the day, though, turnovers did him in just like they did Davis Warren in his first three starts. He lost a fumble and threw a pick, both on his own side of the field. Orji protected the ball, but he simply couldn’t move the team. That sets up a likely Tuttle start again at Illinois in two weeks. 

“I thought he came out and gave us a spark early, obviously,” Moore said. “Three straight drives we had a touchdown, a field goal, and a touchdown. I think the players fed off that. 

“He practiced well all week. He got back healthy, which was good for us. We’ll see, but it was positive. I think he gave us a spark. We’ll see if he’ll be the starter. It looks like he’s given us the best chance. Obviously, we’ve got to clean up the turnover at the end, but he definitely had an exciting start to the game.”

It wasn’t until last week that doctors cleared him, Moore confirmed. Tuttle played behind two new starters on the offensive line in Greg Crippen and Jeff Persi, filling in for center Dom Giudice and left tackle Myles Hinton, respectively, and he escaped pressure and moved the offense well. 

Tuttle finished 10-for-18 for 98 yards with a touchdown and a pick, Orji 3-for-7 for 15 yards. Moore was asked point blank if Tuttle would be the starter going forward. 

“I think we’ll see when we watch the film, but I feel good about the way he played,” Moore said. “I feel good about what he did. So right now, if we had to play tomorrow, I would say Tuttle would be the starting quarterback …

“It’s [up to] us to be successful with him and to be successful with Donovan [Edwards], Kalel [Mullings], the rest of the guys. I feel he gives us a great chance to win. We’ll just clean up the turnovers and go from there.”

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