Jack’s Take: Indiana Needs To Pick One Quarterback, But Each Come With Questions
Indiana’s revolving door at quarterback has extended deep into a third season.
Since the start of 2021, Indiana has played eight quarterbacks: Michael Penix Jr., Jack Tuttle, Donaven McCulley, Grant Gremel, Connor Bazelak, Dexter Williams II, Brendan Sorsby and Tayven Jackson. Add a ninth, Broc Lowry, if you count a fake-punt pass attempt against Maryland.
Quarterback instability has plagued the Hoosiers for three years, culminating in an 8-22 record with just two Big Ten wins in that span. It continued on Saturday in a 52-7 loss at Michigan, with Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby taking turns under center.
Ironically, quarterback-turned-wide receiver McCulley – the school’s highest-ranked quarterback recruit of all time – threw the Hoosiers’ only touchdown pass of the game on a clever trick play call from new offensive coordinator Rod Carey. And to rub it in, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh kept Tuttle, an Indiana transfer, on the field on 4th and goal late in the fourth quarter to extend the Wolverines’ lead to 45 points.
Neither Jackson nor Sorsby made a convincing case that they should be Indiana’s starting quarterback moving forward. Indiana coach Tom Allen said it was the plan before the game to play Jackson the first two drives, move to Sorsby for the third and fourth, then ride the hot hand from there. The rotation hurts the young quarterbacks more than it helps them, and it was a relief to hear that won’t be the case moving forward.
“We’re going to make a decision,” Allen said. “We will not continue to rotate guys in that manner moving forward. But at the same time, I just wanted to see one of them step up, and I don’t feel like that happened today.”
Jackson finished the day completing 7-of-13 passes for 52 yards, two interceptions and a fumble. Sorsby completed 6-of-15 passes for 44 yards and two fumbles. With a couple risky passes, those turnover numbers could have easily been higher.
Jackson showed some promise early on, leading the Hoosiers 60 yards to the Michigan 11-yard line. It may have been Indiana’s best drive since the Louisville game, especially given Michigan’s FBS-low 6.7 points allowed per game entering Saturday. Jackson made quick reads and decisive throws, completing a stretch of 6-of-7 passes. The series ended in disaster, though, as Jackson’s poor throw was intercepted by Michigan’s Rod Moore and returned 38 yards.
Indiana opted for Sorsby during its third drive, and Carey’s offense was moving the ball with both quarterbacks early in his first game as offensive coordinator. Sorsby ran the ball three times for 24 yards and completed 1-of-2 passes to bring Indiana across midfield. Carey dialed up a clever trick play for Indiana’s only touchdown of the game, a 44-yard pass from McCulley to Jaylin Lucas.
After accumulating 137 yards on the second and third drives, Indiana mustered just 95 yards the rest of the game. And after that, almost nothing worked for either quarterback.
But Indiana must pick one. I’d go with Jackson because he’s been a better passer, though the interceptions and overthrows must change. But if they won’t go with Jackson, I’d even support playing Sorsby every snap over a rotation.
Because if Indiana is ever going to develop Jackson or Sorsby and build quarterback stability, that starts with making a decision and sticking with it. With the fear of being benched after any mistake, neither quarterback can feel comfortable, build confidence or find a rhythm.
Jackson, Sorsby and McCulley agree.
“It’s hard to have that mindset of not starting the game, but I might go in,” Jackson said after the Ohio State game. “If he goes out there and throws three touchdowns, I’m definitely not going in. So it’s almost like you’ve just got to wait your turn.”
“I feel like it’s tougher to get into a rhythm,” Sorsby said after the Ohio State game. “Because you never know when you’re going to go. You never know when you’re going to get pulled out. So hopefully here soon one of us makes a jump and we’re able to figure out who the guy’s going to be and we’ll go from there.”
“I think it’s really hard to get yourself in a routine and get other guys in a routine,” McCulley said after the Michigan game. “I’m not sure why they flip-flopped and stuff like that, but I think it’s hard to get into a routine.”
In the past, Indiana could blame injuries on its quarterback instability, but that hasn’t been the case this year. It’s been the coaching staff’s agenda to alternate. Jackson and Sorsby have been healthy all year, but between Allen, former offensive coordinator Walt Bell and the promoted Carey, it seems they haven’t been able to come to a consensus at quarterback.
It made some sense to start the year with a quarterback audition or sorts for the first two weeks, as Jackson and Sorsby had attempted just 10 combined passes at the college level prior to the season. Indiana understandably didn’t know what it truly had with either quarterback. But now through six games in 2023, it’s past time to stick with one.
That choice may also end up being a quarterback who hasn’t played this season. After tearing his ACL in the 2022 season finale, quarterback Dexter Williams II was listed as questionable – not out – on Saturday’s injury report for the first time this season.
This was the most telling sign that he may actually play in 2023. Allen said Williams was available in an emergency situation Saturday, and it was the first time he stayed dressed for the full game, despite going through warmups each week.
“He’s getting closer,” Allen said. “So that will be hopefully in the next week or two we can get a chance to get him back on the field.”
Indiana won at Michigan State last year with Williams as the starting quarterback. He proved to be a real running threat, though he needed development as a passer. There’s reasonable concern about Williams coming back from his second ACL surgery and how that could limit his valuable mobility, but Allen remains optimistic.
“I believe he can help our football team win games,” Allen said Monday.
Despite Indiana’s 2-4 record and concerning play in recent weeks, the Hoosiers still have four winnable games on their schedule: Rutgers, Illinois, Michigan State and Purdue. Rutgers (5-2) scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat Michigan State (2-4). Purdue (2-5) lost 41-7 at home to undefeated Ohio State, and Illinois (2-4) is a 13-point underdog at Maryland this week.
Moving forward, each quarterback option comes with questions. But the best way to build quarterback stability for this season and future years is to pick one starter.
Related stories on Indiana football
- GAME STORY; MICHIGAN 52, INDIANA 7: Coach Tom Allen and the Indiana Hoosiers lost 52-7 to the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday in Ann Arbor. Indiana led early but quickly lost momentum and got blown out by one of the nation's best teams. CLICK HERE
- WATCH IU'S TRICK PLAY TD: Indiana's new offensive coordinator Rod Carey dialed up a trick play, resulting in a 44-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Donaven McCulley to Jaylin Lucas. The Hoosiers took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter against No. 2 Michigan. CLICK HERE
- WHAT MCCULLEY SAID: Following coach Tom Allen and the Indiana Hoosiers' loss to the Michigan Wolverines, wide receiver Donaven McCulley spoke to the media about the rotating quarterback situation between Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby, and a whole lot more. CLICK HERE
- WHAT ALLEN SAID: Indiana football moved to 2-4 on the season after a 52-7 loss at No. 2 Michigan. Here's everything coach Tom Allen said after the game. CLICK HERE
