Backup Michigan football quarterback could be ‘No. 1 freak in the country’

Heading into the 2023 season, there was a duo of sophomores that continually turned heads within the Wolverines’ impressive QB room: Alex Orji and Jayden Denegal. Today, QB coach Kirk Campbell (who called plays in Sherrone Moore’s absence last weekend) spoke with the media, where he confidently stated that Michigan football quarterback Alex Orji could be the “No. 1 freak in the country” by the time he is a senior in the Maize and Blue.

Backup Michigan football quarterback gets more hype

Alex Orji — a 6-foot-3, 236-pound sophomore — is listed as a Michigan football quarterback right now; however, the coaching staff has been moving him around a good bit as of late. Right now, Orji is in the mix for a “secret” role as a kick returner, which is unusual for a sophomore QB, to say the least.

“Alex (Orji) is obviously a physical specimen, right?” Michigan football quarterback coach Kirk Campbell said. “If he’s not going to be the No. 1 freak in the country on that list by the time he is a senior (at Michigan), I’d be surprised.”

Sounds like Orji could see a number of roles — whether that be at quarterback or not — for the Wolverines this year.

Alex Orji continues to impress at quarterback and more

Additionally, Campbell broke down a few aspects of Orji’s game as a quarterback that have been improving as of late. While he does not appear to be QB2 for the Wolverines yet, there is a chance that he can continue to develop into a star player in Ann Arbor.

“We’ve really refined his throwing motion,” Campbell said. “Like the kid has developed so much, so getting him a spot on the field as one of our best 11 is something that we’re continuously going to look at.”

Jim Harbaugh wants his younger QBs to see some in-game action

Additionally, Jim Harbaugh stated earlier this week that he wants to get Alex Orji and Jayden Denegal some in-game reps under center, so keep an eye out for this duo of sophomore QBs to get some reps against UNLV and others throughout the remainder of the 2023 Michigan football schedule.

“We will do it like that,” Jim Harbaugh said on Monday. “Jack (Tuttle) will be the first in this week (once JJ McCarthy comes out), or — Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji, we still consider them right there in the mix (for the backup QB job).”

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