The Wolverines remain without a true QB2 right now, heading into this weekend’s game against the UNLV Rebels. According to first-year QB coach Kirk Campbell, the Michigan football quarterback battle for JJ McCarthy’s backup remains a tight race and has a number of players vying for a spot. Among the top contenders right now are Jayden Denegal, Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle, and Davis Warren — all of whom are very capable quarterbacks.
Update on the Michigan football quarterback battle
Earlier this week, ahead of this weekend’s Week 2 matchup against the UNLV Rebels, Michigan football quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell addressed the media. There, the Wolverines’ first-year QB coach gave some insight into Michigan’s tight race for the backup quarterback role. According to Campbell, the Maize and Blue are rolling with Jim Harbaugh’s “Michigan Method” to determine the QB2 spot.
“We’re going to use the ‘Michigan method’ at the No. 2 spot at quarterback,” Kirk Campbell said of the Michigan football backup quarterback race. “All of those guys — Davis (Warren), Jack Tuttle, Alex Orji, and Jayden Denegal — will hopefully get an opportunity to show what they can do on the game field. Davis got the first nod because he played a little bit better during fall. And he got that opportunity. We’ll see how the rest plays out, though.”
Kirk Campbell adds to the hype surrounding Alex Orji
Campbell made it a point to identify a “freak” Michigan football backup quarterback as well — Alex Orji. According to Campbell, Orji could see the field for the Wolverines in a number of roles, including roles that have nothing to do with playing QB.
“Alex is obviously a physical specimen, right? If he’s not going to be the No. 1 freak in the country on that list by the time he’s a senior, I’d be surprised … We’ve really refined his throwing motion. That the kid has developed so much. Getting him a spot on the field as one of our best 11 is something that we’re continuously going to look at.”
Last weekend, Davis Warren got the backup quarterback snaps; however, it is clear that Campbell and Harbaugh want to continue cycling through their options. Additionally, it’s worth noting that many coaches — once again, including Jim Harbaugh — have firmly stated that the Wolverines’ two rising star quarterbacks (Denegal and Orji) are absolutely contenders in the race for QB2 this year.
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