Alex Orji, Michigan football's most athletic QB, hits transfer portal

Alex Orji, Michigan football’s most athletic QB, hits transfer portal

Posted by author December 13, 2024 Football

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The man who was expected to win the Michigan football starting quarterback competition entering the 2024 season has entered the transfer portal.

Alex Orji, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound dual-threat signal caller from Sachse, Texas has put his name in the NCAA’s online database program, spokesman Dave Ablauf confirmed to the Detroit Free Press on Friday.

Orji appeared in 20 games with three starts across three seasons for the Wolverines, but it became clear he was not going to cut it as a passer at the Big Ten level after he was thrust into the starting role, which he took over at midseason when Davis Warren opened the year struggling.

Orji led U-M to a win over USC, but he completed 7 of 12 passes for 32 yards. The next week, U-M survived Minnesota, but even then in his “best” game, he completed 10 of 16 passes for 86 yards with one touchdown and one turnover.

The following week, U-M got in a 14-0 hole at Washington as Orji started the game 3 of 7 for 15 yards and he was pulled for graduate Jack Tuttle. Orji, who completed 2 of 14 passes of 10 or more air yards during his career and 5 of 15 passes under pressure in his career per Pro Football Focus did not start another game.

In his career, Orji completed 24 of 45 passes (53.3%) for 148 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Despite his passing limitations, Orji proved to be much more effective on the ground, carrying the ball 74 times for 383 yards (5.2 yards per carry) and four touchdowns across his time in Ann Arbor.

Orji’s athletic ability is not a question − that’s why he slotted No. 13 in Bruce Feldman’s “freaks list” for The Athletic entering this past season − but his inability to develop as a passer left U-M’s offense too one-dimensional with him under center.

In Orji’s three starts, U-M went 2-1 and he was held to 32 yards or fewer through the air on two of those games. He did not have a contest where he completed even 60% of his passes or threw for 90 yards.

In his career, however, he did have some big moments, including a 20-yard run vs. Ohio State in 2023 and a key 29-yard run vs. the Buckeyes on third down this year in the upset victory in Columbus.

However when all is said and done, it’s little surprise that Orji is on the move now, given the state of the program.

Not only is U-M bringing in the No. 1 high school quarterback prospect in the country in Bryce Underwood, but rumors have begun to swirl about Maryland’s Billy Edwards Jr. possibly joining the fold as a more experienced option to push the incoming freshman from Belleville.

Michigan also announced the hire of its new offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey (North Carolina) on Friday afternoon.

Orji is now the second U-M quarterback to enter the portal − Jayden Denegal made the same decision earlier this week − and is now the 13th person from the 2024 team to announce their impending departure.

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.