The highly anticipated Michigan football spring game offered a close look at the Wolverines’ quarterback competition for the upcoming 2024 season. Alex Orji, who served as the backup to national champion J.J. McCarthy last season, took the first-team snaps for the Blue Team in Saturday’s game at Michigan Stadium. Despite Orji’s efforts, the Blue Team fell to the Maize Team by a score of 17-7.
Orji showcased glimpses of his potential as a dual-threat quarterback, leading several drives effectively. However, his lack of experience as a college-level passer was evident at times, resulting in a few inaccurate throws. Orji has attempted only one pass in his two previous years at Michigan. In the spring game, he unofficially completed 13 of 18 passes for 103 yards, without recording any passing touchdowns or interceptions. Notably, he did score an 18-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, giving the Blue Team an early lead.
Michigan is set to kick off the 2024 season against Fresno State on August 31st.
As anticipated, Alex Orji took the reins as the first-team quarterback for Michigan during the spring game. Having distinguished himself from other contenders throughout spring practice, Orji appears poised to assume the starting role for the Wolverines in the 2024 season. Despite appearing in six games last season, Orji did not attempt a pass and primarily contributed as a runner. In his two previous years at Michigan, he had attempted just one pass.
Orji’s performance in the spring game had a shaky start as he missed an open receiver, but he quickly found his rhythm and guided the Blue Team on a touchdown drive. Demonstrating poise and control, Orji orchestrated a lengthy series that consumed more than 10 minutes of game time. He ultimately scored the game’s first points with an impressive 18-yard run, evading several defenders from the Maize Team while scrambling outside the pocket to his right.
It’s important to note that quarterbacks were not subject to tackling during the Michigan spring game.
The drive led by Michigan and Orji during the spring game wasn’t flawless, but it showcased promising signs as the Wolverines transition into a new era without J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. McCarthy, a likely first-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, boasted an impressive 27-1 (.964) overall record as Michigan’s starting quarterback over the past two seasons. While McCarthy wasn’t known for flashy playmaking, he excelled in efficiently managing the offense.
Regardless of who takes over as the next starting quarterback at Michigan, they will be expected to emulate McCarthy’s approach by minimizing errors and effectively directing the offense. While McCarthy leaned more towards passing and was less of a running threat, Orji presents a contrasting style with his dual-threat capabilities, particularly his proficiency in making plays with his legs.
“A guy like Alex Orji, he’s a dual-threat quarterback, and I think mentally he’s very similar to J.J., but their skill sets are not the same,” remarked The Michigan Insider publisher Sam Webb during 247Sports’ Transfer Portal Palooza. “Orji, weighing in at 235 pounds, is a legitimate 4.5 runner who can contribute significant ground production, a contrast to J.J. who was 200 pounds and primarily operated from the pocket.”
Orji re-entered the game for Michigan during the fourth quarter of the spring game to orchestrate a couple more drives for the Blue Team. Despite trailing by two scores, Orji couldn’t engineer a late-game comeback, although he did have what appeared to be a 5-yard touchdown run nullified due to a sack. By the end of the game, Orji’s stat line showed 13 completions on 18 attempts for 103 yards, with no passing touchdowns or interceptions.
While there are other Michigan quarterbacks in contention for the starting role in 2024, including Jayden Denegal and veteran Jack Tuttle, it was senior walk-on Davis Warren who made the biggest impression during the spring. Warren played a pivotal role in leading Team Maize to a 17-7 victory, tossing two touchdown passes of over 40 yards in the fourth quarter to spark the comeback.
Looking ahead, Michigan now shifts its focus to the summer months as they prepare for the 2024 season under new head coach Sherrone Moore. Moore, who filled in as head coach for several games last year in place of suspended head coach Jim Harbaugh, will lead a team that returns only a handful of starters from its national championship-winning squad. Additionally, many assistant coaches from Harbaugh’s staff have departed.
The Wolverines will kick off their 2024 campaign against Fresno State on August 31st.
