ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Following a slow start to the 2024 season, the No. 18 Michigan football team is set to debut a new starting quarterback as they begin Big Ten play. On Monday, head coach Sherrone Moore announced that redshirt sophomore Alex Orji will replace Davis Warren as the starter.
“Yeah, Alex will start on Saturday,” Moore confirmed during his weekly press conference. “I’m excited for him. He’s been eager for this opportunity, so we’re moving forward.”
Moore hinted at this shift last Saturday when Warren was benched despite completing 11 of 14 passes for 106 yards. However, all three of Warren’s incomplete passes were intercepted.
Warren currently ranks second in the nation with six interceptions through three games, holding the second-worst touchdown-to-interception ratio (2:6), ranking 120th in passer rating, and 100th in yards per attempt.
“Just can’t have ’em,” Moore remarked about Warren’s interceptions post-game. “He put the ball in jeopardy too many times. We had to make a change.”
Moore believes Orji is ready, despite his first start coming against the No. 11 team, USC.
“Alex has been working hard, studying like he always does, but there’s been an extra intensity,” Moore said. “We’ve got a plan in place for him, and we’re excited to show it.”
Orji, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound athlete from Texas, is considered Michigan’s top athlete. He has 183 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his career, including 27 yards on five carries last Saturday. Michigan’s strength program noted Orji outperformed notable NFL quarterbacks in agility drills over the summer.
Though Orji has a strong arm, his passing experience is limited. He’s 3-for-6 this season for 15 yards and completed just 52 percent of his high school passes. Despite this, he was seen as a top contender for the starting job due to his potential.
“Orji has high upside,” Moore said. “He’s athletic, has a rocket arm, and if he performs well, Michigan could be back in the national title race.”
Now, Orji gets his opportunity. While he’s only thrown one pass over five yards at Michigan, Moore expressed confidence in his readiness.
“He’s got great arm strength and has significantly improved his accuracy,” Moore added. “We’ll prepare him mentally, physically, and spiritually this week, and I believe he’ll rise to the occasion.”
As for Warren, Moore isn’t worried about how he’ll handle the benching. The former walk-on and Leukemia survivor has maintained a positive attitude.
“It’s tough, but the key is protecting the football,” Moore said. “Warren has been an incredible teammate, supporting Alex after the change. We’ll continue to support him, but we have to play the guys who give us the best chance to win.”
