Alex Orji ‘matches up well’ for what Michigan football needs at QB

One of the biggest unknowns for Michigan football heading into the 2024 season is the starting quarterback. We don’t know who it’s going to be which is a big change from a year ago.

The Wolverines knew they had one of the best quarterbacks in college football going into last season in J.J. McCarthy but this season feels more like 2021.

Jadyn Davis could be J.J. McCarthy in that scenario but he doesn’t feel quite ready, although he flashed some glimpses this spring. Davis Warren certainly had some good moments in the spring. He and Jack Tuttle are in the mix along with Alex Orji, who I have said is the best option.

Charles Power, a recruiting scout for On3.com agrees with that assessment. He called Orji an X-factor for the Michigan football offense. He also said on The Wolverine Podcast that Orji’s skill set fits perfectly with what the Wolverines want to do.

Why Alex Orji is a good fit for Michigan football

“Going back and watching him in high school and then kind of seeing what he was able to do this year, I think he fits the kind of ball that Michigan wants to play and really how their roster is constructed. Right now, they’re kind of a line of scrimmage, heavy personnel type of roster with their tight end room and how they can run the ball. They continue to add skill pieces and receivers. That looks to kind of be a point of emphasis for Michigan on the recruiting trail. But I think when you look at this team in 2024, I think Orji’s skill set really matches up well with what they need.”

Alex Orji is a true running threat

Orji will have to prove he can make plays with his arm. We know what he can do with his feet and I’m excited to see what the Michigan run game looks like with a true running threat at quarterback. Forget about the scrambles but the designed runs are going to be tough to stop, especially if Orji can make the correct reads.

Power also said that Orji has the kind of talent Michigan football needs, as long as the offense is designed with his strengths in mind.

“I think when you look at [Orji] as a quarterback, if you have an offense really tailored to his strengths, I think he’s a potential X factor,” Power said. “Watching him continue to improve as a senior at Sachse in Texas, I think that was very encouraging. And that was part of why we went with him as a four-star along with just the physical ability.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms.