ANN ARBOR >> Experience is a vital tool for athletes, and as Michigan’s Jack Tuttle approaches his first start at quarterback for the Wolverines, that is something that fuels him.

Tuttle is 25 and in his seventh season of college football, having been granted an NCAA medical waiver last February, and his second year at Michigan after transferring from Indiana before the 2023 season. While injuries to his right (throwing) arm prevented him from practicing in the spring and limited him in preseason camp, he entered the Washington game 10 days ago and gave the team a spark before two fourth-quarter turnovers led to the loss.

Michigan will start its third quarterback of the season when the 24th-ranked Wolverines (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) play at Illinois on Saturday. Davis Warren started the first three games and Alex Orji the next three.

After the loss at Washington, running back Donovan Edwards described Tuttle’s command of the huddle when he replaced Orji with Michigan trailing, 14-0, and immediately got his teammates’ attention. That’s where Tuttle’s leadership and experience come into play.

“They call him Uncle Jack, the seventh-year guy that’s done it, seen it, been in the big game, been in all the games,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said Monday at his weekly news conference. “He’s done a really good job, and he’ll just continue to progress and do those things right now.”

Tuttle began his career at Utah, then transferred to Indiana (2019-22), and played in 15 games with five starts and was voted a captain. He backed up J.J. McCarthy last season and returned this year as the only Michigan quarterback with starting experience.

He has been there, done that, but it has been a while. Tuttle suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during a game against Penn State on Nov. 15, 2022. That was the last time he started a game. Still, his demeanor at quarterback was unwavering when he took over the Michigan offense at Washington, and his teammates were impressed.

“He came in and he was just a super-calming presence,” left guard Josh Priebe said Monday. “Obviously, he’s had some playing time at other schools and different places. He’s also been in some adverse situations in games before, so having that experience is definitely an advantage in those times.”

Tuttle practiced the week of the Washington game but was medically cleared a week earlier. Michigan did not have a game last Saturday, which gave him more time to focus on practice reps and improving. It wasn’t about getting him up to speed — he knows the offense — but getting him more snaps with the first team and more experience.

“Even though he didn’t practice, he’s been in meetings, he’s been out there, so he’s seen it; he’s done it,” Moore said. “He just hasn’t been able to practice and do all the things at full speed, and, obviously, throwing and the timing and all that. From the perspective of knowing and understanding the system, no, but getting the things done and timing with the receivers and the tight ends and timing the handoffs and all those things, that’s what he had to really progress at, and he did a really good job.”

Tuttle replaces Orji, known for his run threat, but is a completely different quarterback. Tuttle showed at Washington an ability to scramble and throw. Moore said the last two weeks have been used to build the offense around Tuttle’s abilities.

“You build the whole plan around Alex and his skill set and what he does great, and now that you have Tuttle, he’s obviously a different skill set, different things he could do,” Moore said on the radio show. “He could still run, but do you want to run them a lot? You know, those things are different and throwing the ball different places, different areas of the field, how he can attack the field are different because he’s got experience and he’s done it. So, really excited to watch this offense grow with him at the helm.”

Orji is the backup quarterback and as has been the case during his Michigan career, there are different packages for him in this offense. That hasn’t changed. Warren also is available as a backup, but Orji is a threat as a runner.

“We’ll still have some doses of him in there,” Moore said. “We’ve got some cool little packages, so excited to put those on display.”

Michigan embarks on the second half of the season attempting to win out and make the playoff. That’s an enormous task, considering the games on the schedule, but the Wolverines will attempt this with their third starting quarterback. Moore is confident in what Tuttle brings to the team.

“The experience is No. 1 because he’s done it at a high level at different places and played in the big games, played in the away game, played in those atmospheres,” Moore said. “That’s huge but also provides you a mentor to the younger guys that’s done it. From a playing experience and ability, he’s got all the tools from a throwing ability and ready to see him put that to work.”

It’s officially Uncle Jack’s time.