Sherrone Moore Reveals Details on Michigan QB Battle: ‘Really Hard to Make a Decision’

“We know who we play Saturday and we’ll have somebody ready for the first snap.”

That’s what Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore said when asked about the quarterback for Week 1 in his first press conference of the 2024 season.

With their Week 1 matchup with Fresno State only five days away, Moore said the Michigan QB battle is still fluid.

What Sherrone Moore said about the QB battle

“We’re close … we’ll figure that out soon, though. We’re in a good place.”

That’s what Moore said in response to the status of the battle between Alex Orji & Davis Warren to be Michigan’s QB1 in 2024.

Will he choose one before Saturday? Or will the two signal callers rotate like J.J. McCarthy & Cade McNamara did in 2022?

“We’ll see who practices better these next couple days, then we’ll make a decision,” Moore said during the presser. “Whether it’s Friday or right before the game, we’ll let them know and everyone will find out at the same time.”

In terms of a rotation, Moore kept it vague, telling reporters, “We’ll see,” if there are any mid-game or mid-series rotations between both quarterbacks.

Michigan quarterbacks Alex Orji (10), Jayden Denegal (4), Jack Tuttle (13) and Davis Warren (16) practice before the UNLV game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Is there a leader in the race right now?

While most fans and media alike assume Orji will be the starting quarterback for the Wolverines this season, the practice reps suggest it’s still an airtight race.

“(First team reps) have been even throughout. It’s been an even distribution,” Moore told reporters. “It’s one with him (Orji), one with the next guy (Warren). Those guys have done an outstanding job and, obviously, made it really hard for us to make a decision right now.”

With a new coordinator in Kirk Campbell, the team has an opportunity to split time between both, using Orji as a run threat and Warren as the passer.

Despite the assumption that it was Orji’s job to lose, Moore isn’t surprised to see Warren’s relentless effort to win the job.

“If you know (Warren) on a personal level and what he’s been through, that kid is a fighter,” he said. “You knew it was not just going to be given to anybody. He’s earned the opportunity to compete for it, and that’s what he’s been doing.”

Orji has one pass attempt in his career but he’s totaled three touchdowns on the ground with over 100 rushing yards, including a key play against Ohio State last season.

Warren, on the other hand, has 14 passing attempts for 89 yards with zero touchdowns and an interception in mostly garbage time during his U-M career.

Who will be Michigan’s quarterback on Saturday? It sounds like we’ll all find out together.