A massive reset at Michigan will include a new quarterback in 2024.
After J.J. McCarthy steered the Wolverines offense for two years, first-year head coach Sherrone Moore will oversee a quarterback competition this summer. ESPN’s Pete Thamel believes there’s an early favorite for the job.
“I think it’s Alex Orji,” Thamel told Rece Davis on the College GameDay Podcast three weeks ago. “Watching the spring game, and the buzz out of the spring game was he looked and acted like the starter. Felt like the starter.”
McCarthy was the first of 13 Michigan players drafted in April. His successor will operate behind an entirely new offensive line, and last year’s top skill-position players (Blake Corum, Roman Wilson, and Cornelius Johnson, and AJ Barner) also turned pro.
However, Thamel noted that Michigan wasn’t overly active in the transfer portal. With no quarterbacks transferring to Ann Arbor, Orji will compete with Jayden Denegal, Davis Warren, freshman Jadyn Davis, and seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle for the starting job.
Orji threw his only pass with the Wolverines (a five-yard completion) on Sept. 17, 2022. However, the former three-star recruit turned some reps into 86 yards and a rushing touchdown last season.
“Alex Orji has never started a game. He’s played in big snaps, which is gonna help him,” Thamel said. “He played against Alabama. He played against Ohio State. Those are some of the most high-leverage moments you can play in.”
Thamel added that whoever Moore chooses under center must “grow up pretty fast.” Michigan hosts Texas and USC in September, so the Wolverines can’t afford too much early strife at quarterback.
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