ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Before the season, Michigan was careful to keep its quarterback plans under wraps, and it wasn’t until pregame warmups against Fresno State that it became clear Davis Warren had won the starting role.
However, Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore made a surprising change this week by announcing on Monday that Alex Orji would be the starter for Saturday’s Big Ten opener against No. 11 USC (3:30 p.m., CBS). While the shift itself wasn’t unexpected, the decision to publicly reveal it just five days before the game caught some off guard, as players were hearing the news for the first time during Monday’s media sessions.
Moore explained to WXYT-FM 97.1′s “Stoney and Jansen” show that he felt it was important to make the announcement to show his confidence in Orji. “For us, the players to see me announce it to everybody else, (and) understand the confidence I have in Alex,” Moore said. “I think it was important I did that. I just think it was an important thing for us to do as a program.”
The main factor behind the change was Warren’s performance, including his six interceptions in three games. Michigan (2-1) managed to secure a 28-18 victory over Arkansas State last Saturday, but Warren’s three turnovers led to his being pulled in the third quarter for Orji. After the game, Moore noted that Warren “put the ball in harm’s way too many times,” leading to the decision to bench him.
Moore emphasized the need to take care of the football, stating, “The football was put in jeopardy too many times. It’s Orji’s time to give him a chance. He went in there, executed, and we’re ready for him to take the reins.”
Orji, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 235 pounds, is known for his physicality and athleticism, making him a strong runner with 10 carries for 58 yards this season. However, concerns remain about his passing accuracy, which is crucial for a successful quarterback.
Moore noted, “Good offenses and great offenses are the ones that score points and move the football, (and) do things to their players’ strengths. We’re going to do everything we can to optimize Alex’s strengths with the guys around him.”
In his 12 appearances at Michigan, Orji has only completed 4 of 7 passes for 20 yards, with his longest completion being nine yards. He missed a short throw to a wide-open receiver in the season opener and overthrew a deep pass to a wide-open target last week against Arkansas State.
Moore remains optimistic about Orji’s potential, saying, “He’s one of the most athletic guys on the team, and pound for pound as strong as anyone on the team. A good runner, but he’s actually a much better thrower than people think. He’s just got to prove it, go out there and execute on game day.”
