2 young Michigan football quarterbacks could get their chance this weekend

Last weekend, JJ McCarthy was taken out of the game in the third quarter in favor of playing backup QB Davis Warren. This week, Jim Harbaugh says that a number of other Michigan football quarterbacks may get their chance to shine — this includes Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji, who have been garnering some new buzz from fall camp and more heading into the 2023 season.

Young Michigan football quarterbacks could get a shot this weekend, per Jim Harbaugh

Today, Jim Harbaugh had a chance to comment on his Michigan football quarterbacks and more. Due to an elite performance last weekend, JJ McCarthy was taken out of the game pretty early; in his place was Davis Warren, who is said to have been impressive during fall camp. Now, with UNLV on the clock, three other quarterbacks are looking to get into the mix: Jack Tuttle (transfer from Indiana), Jayden Denegal (sophomore), and Alex Orji (sophomore).

Since the start of fall camp, there has been a good bit of buzz about both of the Wolverines’ sophomore quarterbacks. Alex Orji, who may earn a role as a kick returner, is said to be a freak athlete, while Denegal’s massive frame and rising talent levels have him turning some heads within the program as well. Here is what Jim Harbaugh said about these Michigan football quarterbacks and this weekend’s rotation once JJ McCarthy comes out.

“We will do it like that. Jack (Tuttle) will be the first in this week (one JJ comes out), or — Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji, we still consider them right there in the mix,” Jim Harbaugh said when asked about his Michigan football quarterbacks ahead of the Wolverines’ Week 2 contest against UNLV.

“Take it to the games, just like we do,” Harbaugh continued. “Hopefully, we have the opportunity to be able to play Jack, Jayden, and Alex in this next game. Davis (Warren) had a chance, and I thought he was doing good — that’s when we got the penalties that stopped those drives, that was really unfortunate. Kind of a young mistake lining up over the ball, and the other false start Geo had, and might have been somebody else involved in that false start as well. We’ll get that cleaned up. So not really a reflection on him (Davis Warren), but the other guys are going to get the opportunity to play in the game.”

As JJ McCarthy continues to impress, depth should be tested

After the 2023 season, JJ McCarthy could be headed to the NFL Draft — if last weekend’s game was any indication, it seems likely that this will be his final year in the Maize and Blue. That is all just Week 1 speculation, though.

Regardless, there are a few rising star Michigan football quarterbacks on the roster right now — including Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji — so be on the lookout for them to get some solid in-game reps against the UNLV Rebels this weekend once JJ McCarthy comes out.

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