Alex Orji is considered by most college football fans to be the wild card at quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines’ 2024-2025 football team.
Orji is a former four-star prospect who has thrown one pass in his college football career, a completion for five yards during his freshman season in Ann Arbor.
Orji’s running abilities punched his ticket for playing time in all of Michigan’s biggest games during his sophomore season.
The 6-foot-3, 235 pound quarterback from Sachse, Texas ran 15 times for 86 yards and a touchdown last season, drawing comparisons from Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh to SEC Title winning quarterback Jalen Milroe of former coach Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide.
This season will be the proving grounds for Orji’s skills, accuracy, precision, mental fortitude, mental toughness, and much more as the quarterback at Michigan.
Here are five reasons why Orji could surprise many people this season:
1. The Kirk Campbell Effect-
Kirk Campbell is the Wolverines’ well-respected new offensive coordinator. Michigan receiver Tyler Morris stated recently that the passing game has evolved under Campbell.
Orji’s efficiency in the passing game will be tested. He didn’t complete a high percentage of his passes in high school. Campbell’s brilliant mind will put Orji in the right position to succeed on high percentage throws.
2. Strength-
Alex Orji is a pure athlete who the ability to run over and through defenders. He has the strength to fight off pass rushers and to punish tacklers on when he escapes the pocket or runs behind his powerful offensive line.
Wolverines fullback Max Bredeson, a former walk-on, will help block for Orji on designed QB runs, allowing him to break through the opposing defensive line for big gains.
3. Speed-
Orji has the wheels to run past defenders at all three levels of the defense. He is as fleet of foot as any quarterback in the Big Ten as evidenced by his 5.9 yards per rush career mark. Orji will bring a different dimension to the Michigan defense with his rushing skills.
4. Team-First Attitude-
Orji shared an update on the Wolverines’ 2024-2025 quarterback race at a training camp for kids recently. He shared his team-first attitude with reporter Isaiah Hole, stating that he is most concerned about doing what Michigan needs to win football games rather than winning the starting QB job.
That shows that he knows his limitations and is a great sign for Michigan football fans. Orji knows he must play within himself and play to his strengths to help Michigan win, a thought that could portend plenty of carries for Orji in the running game.
5. Support-
Orji won’t have to do it all on offense for Michigan to win games. He has a smart head coach in Sherrone Moore and a powerful running game to support him led by Donovan Edwards, Kalel Mullings and perhaps freshman running back Jordan Marshall, who has been compared to Blake Corum in his early days on campus.
Colston Loveland has Travis Kelce-like potential according to Jim Harbaugh, suggesting that the Wolverines’ 2024-2025 offense is tailor made for a relatively green QB like Orji to make his mark and lead the Wolverines to another ten-plus win season and run at the Big Ten title.