Tag: Alex Orji

2023 Season Countdown: #50 Alex Orji

Name: Alex Orji
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Sachse (TX) Sachse
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #10
Last year: I ranked Orji #67 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in three games and ran 6 times for 37 yards and 2 touchdowns while completed 1/1 pass for 5 yards.
TTB Rating: 55

Last year I surmised that Orji would run the ball in one or two games, but I was wrong.

He played in three games.

One of those games even resulted in broadcaster Robert Griffin III saying “It’s an Orji in the endzone!” after a running touchdown. I have to imagine the suits at Fox were not too happy with that. But in general, Orji had an okay freshman season for a quarterback. I mean, he scored 2 touchdowns and has a completion percentage of 100%, which is tied for the highest completion percentage in NCAA history.

"It's an orgy in the end zone!"- RG3 after Michigan's Alex Orji runs for a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/i22sw8rrK4

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 3, 2022

This year Cade McNamara and Alan Bowman are no longer around, bumping J.J. McCarthy up to surefire starter status. The backup QB job looks like it will be a battle between Indiana transfer Jack Tuttle and walk-on Davis Warren, but I expect Orji to be used more consistently as a running quarterback. Michigan has done something similar with Dan Villari, and even McCarthy was used more as a running option in 2021 when pocket quarterback McNamara was behind center. Look for the coaching staff to put together special packages and formations to get Orji the ball and keep McCarthy fresh.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

Thoughts on 2023 Spring Game

Okay, it’s time to put some thoughts about the spring game on paper.

QUARTERBACK: We know what J.J. McCarthy brings to the table, and Michigan was never going to let him factor into the run game, so whatever. This comes down to thoughts on the backups. After watching Michigan have a good 1-2 punch the past two years with McCarthy and Cade McNamara, there is a big question mark at the #2 quarterback spot in 2023. I thought redshirt sophomore Davis Warren once again outplayed the competition, which comes from Alex Orji and Indiana transfer Jack Tuttle. Tuttle had a couple decent throws and showed some decent athleticism on the run, but Warren is more accurate and probably a better decision maker, despite the fact that Tuttle is a sixth-year player. Orji has decent arm strength but leaves something to be desired when it comes to his timing and accuracy; running is the best part of his game, and he’s a change-up guy. I would put him at #4 on the depth chart.

Hit the jump for more.

2022 Season Countdown: #67 Alex Orji

Name: Alex Orji
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 226 lbs.
High school: Sachse (TX) Sachse
Position: Quarterback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #10
Last year: Orji was a senior in high school (LINK). He completed 127/247 (51.4%) of his passes for 2,064 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions; he also ran for 1,187 yards and 24 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 55

Orji committed to Michigan in December 2021 after being committed to play quarterback at Virginia Tech. He was the second QB at VT, and he became the second QB at Michigan. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but that is probably not a good sign for him to continue his career at quarterback. If a school can’t settle on a player as its quarterback in the class, then the school is probably hedging its bets.

Orji enrolled early, and in the spring game, they used him a little bit. He made some throws that didn’t look good, and then he ran the ball where he looked okay. Personally, I have surmised that he will end up at linebacker or tight end/H-back. He has two older brothers who have played linebacker at the collegiate level, and while there’s probably no genetic predisposition to play linebacker, the body type and athletic skills seem to lend themselves to that position. However, Michigan has often allowed eventual position-switchers to spend one year competing at their preferred position before moving, so maybe we’ll see Orji be a running QB in a game or two this season before a change comes.

Prediction: Redshirt

How Does the 2022 Class Match Up with Michigan’s All-Time Recruits?

Thanks to Ashley, Eric, Joe, and Stephen for the recent Paypal donations.

As much as we like to get excited about every single Michigan recruit, it’s important to keep perspective and realize that not every one of these players will be destined for stardom. This exercise can give us a range of what to expect from some of these players, even though star rankings can be very wrong.

Will Johnson – CB – Grosse Pointe (MI) South
2022 ranking: #14
Historical ranking: tied for #9 all-time at Michigan
Tied with: S Daxton Hill (2019) and DE LaMarr Woodley (2003)
Closest positional comparisons: Jabrill Peppers (#3 in 2014) and Donovan Warren (#27 in 2007)

Derrick Moore – DE – Baltimore (MD) St. Francis
2022 ranking: #49
Historical ranking: tied for #37 all-time at Michigan
Tied with: OG Kyle Kalis (2012) and RB Ty Isaac (2013)
Closest positional comparisons: Pierre Woods (#43 in 2001) and Luiji Vilain (#56 in 2017)

Keon Sabb – S – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
2022 ranking: #84
Historical ranking: #64 all-time at Michigan
Flanked by: OT Cory Zirbel (#83 in 2005) and #87 Kyle Bosch (2013)
Closest positional comparisons: Michael Williams (#72 in 2007) and Demar Dorsey (#87 in 2010)

Hit the jump for more.

2022 Spring Roster Notes

Even though jersey numbers don’t matter much – there is plenty of time for them to change – it’s always interesting to see what jerseys the freshmen wear. Here’s a rundown of the newcomers:

• #0: WR Darrius Clemons
• #2: CB Will Johnson (I saw a rumor that he switched to #4, but #2 is on the roster)
• #3: S Keon Sabb
• #4: WR Amorion Walker
• #8: DE Derrick Moore
• #10: QB Alex Orji
• #12: S Kody Jones
• #13: WR Tyler Morris
• #16: QB Jayden Denegal
• #24: CB Myles Pollard
• #55: DT Mason Graham
• #55: C Olu Oluwatimi
• #60: OL Connor Jones

On another note, Eamonn Dennis has officially switched from cornerback to wide receiver on the roster. Meanwhile, Mike Sainristil is still listed at wide receiver even though he’s getting practice reps at nickel corner.