Michigan announces quarterback change ahead of USC game
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore announced Monday that quarterback Alex Orji will get the start for the Wolverines against the USC Trojans this weekend. He replaces Davis Warren, a former walk-on who started Michigan’s first three games of the season but threw for just 444 yards and six interceptions against two touchdowns.
“Alex will start on Saturday,” Moore said during a Monday press conference. “Excited for him. He’s been in there, champing at the bit. So we’ll move on from there.”
Orji entered Michigan’s win against Arkansas State this past weekend after Warren threw three interceptions. He has only ever been a running threat for the Wolverines in three seasons there. In his career, Orji has rushed 31 times for 181 yards and three touchdowns. He’s thrown just seven career passes and four of them came two days ago against the Red Wolves.
He was used situationally last season during Michigan’s run to the national title. He rushed twice in each game against Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama and Washington to close the season, though for just 48 yards total. This season, he’s completed 4 of 7 passes for 20 yards and two touchdowns.
It’ll be interesting to see how much Michigan trusts him to drop back and pass against the USC defense. No matter how much, USC will need to control their rush lanes and keep him in the pocket. The Trojans had success last week against a dual-threat quarterback in Utah State’s Bryson Barnes. USC sacked Barnes three times and held him to five rushes for -8 yards. But Orji is a different kind of athlete.
