Unpacking Michigan’s tightly contested quarterback competition

If Michigan wants to defend their Big Ten and national title this upcoming season, there’s no question that they’ll need consistent play from the quarterback position. A starting spot that’s currently being competed over during fall camp in Ann Arbor ahead of the 2024 college football season.

The Wolverine‘s Clayton Sayfie recently joined the On3 Roundtable and revealed that one quarterback has not yet separated themself from the rest of the group. Pulling back the curtain on Michigan’s pivotal battle under center.

“Well it’s interesting because Jack Tuttle, who’s also in the mix in his seventh year of college football, our Chris Balas reported last week that he was a little limited early on in fall camp,” Sayfie said. “And he missed all of spring with a shoulder injury that he was recovering from from last season. So I think that’s definitely a factor and he’s had trouble staying healthy in the past. So I think that’s a concern if you’re Michigan.”

Tuttle may be the most experienced quarterback on Michigan after spending four seasons at Indiana and the last two with the Wolverines, but he’s not the only one. As two quarterbacks with unique, differing skillsets continue to duke it out for the starting job.

“But like you said, the word kind of mid last week was that Alex Orji, who is number 13 freak in the country according to Bruce Feldman and obviously a really good runner, but that he has improved as a passer,” Sayfie said. “Now how improved I think is a big question there. But certainly, if you consider his dual-threat ability, if he can be an adequate passer for Michigan, I think he seems like the favorite to be the top option.”

At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Orji has appeared in nine games in his Michigan career. Serving predominantly as a rusher with just one pass attempt in his career but 17 rushes for 106 yards and three scores on the ground. Potentially serving as a dangerous dual-threat quarterback if he can display some passing prowess this upcoming season.

“And then Davis Warren, you can’t rule him out. We’ve been saying that since the spring, but it seems like he’s stacked some really good days in fall camp from what some of his teammates have said as well,” Sayfie said. “And one teammate, Quinten Johnson on the defensive side of the ball, saying he’s been the best passer so far. That was last week, so I think that it’s pretty open.”

A close competition can oftentimes bring out the best of whoever wins the starting job at quarterback. And for Michigan, it seems like their current battle is as close as it gets between two QBs who may even both see the field during this season as they look to defend their titles.

“Semaj Morgan, sophomore wide receiver, said on Monday that it’s a pure battle. Like it’s a true quarterback competition and I think Michigan wants somebody to separate. You still have a little bit of time here before the opener for someone to do that, but it’ll be interesting to see kind of how it plays out, and I think they could still use multiple quarterbacks. I think that’s a possibility as well,” Sayfie concluded.