U-M’s Warren on roadway to QB task: ‘Never ever wavered’

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

  • Senior WriterAug 31, 2024, 07:31 PM ET Close College football press reporter.
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.ANN ARBOR, Mich.

— Davis Warren never ever considered leaving Michigan.The quarterback remained grateful that

former Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh used him an opportunity to join the team as a favored walk-on in 2021. His life and profession had changed in the previous three years, from a cancer medical diagnosis in high school, to his senior season being canceled due to COVID-19. Warren’s path to the beginning job was jammed up and may never ever open, but he desired the opportunity, nevertheless slim, to lead the Wolverines’ offense.Warren’s chance came Saturday night, as he emerged as the surprise winner of an offseason competitors to replace J.J. McCarthy and take snaps for the defending nationwide champs. Warren had actually some anticipated bumps in his first start but assisted No. 9 Michigan open the season with a 30-10 win versus Fresno State at Michigan Stadium.

“I never fluctuated,” Warren stated. “I never had any interest in leaving or going anywhere else. I wished to be here. And certainly there’s been some ups and down in the roadway, but it did feel really great tonight.

“I’ve thought about this day for a very long time and envisioned it a lot.”

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Warren competed throughout camp with Alex Orji, who played in areas Saturday and will continue to have a role. However first-year Michigan coach Sherrone Moore stated Warren developed separation.

“Eventually, he won the job the recently, actually,” said Moore, who didn’t publicly reveal a starter going into the opener. “He was just consistent, looked after the football, made plays against that defense that you saw out there. They played hard for both [quarterbacks], however he ultimately took the job and won it. That decided simpler for us.”

Warren entered Saturday’s game with 14 profession pass efforts for 89 backyards and an interception. After playing in five games in 2022, the 6-2, 195-pound senior from Los Angeles appeared in three games last season and had 5 pass attempts.Warren discovered star

tight end Colston Loveland eight times for 87 backyards and an 18-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, which capped Michigan’s best drive of the game after Fresno State had cut the Wolverines ‘result in 16-10 with 10:06 left. Warren also was obstructed on a downfield throw to Fredrick Moore and, like the rest of Michigan’s offense, sustained some midgame battles. The Wolverines transformed 4 of 11 third-down opportunities and went into the red zone simply twice. Davis Warren, who beat out Alex Orji for Michigan’s beginning quarterback job, went 15-of-25 for 118 yard with one touchdown and one interception in Saturday’s win. Image by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images”We can’t leave ourselves in third-and-long,”Warren stated. “We have actually got to keep the chains moving. That falls on all of us. However I’m just so proud of the methods guys fought. That last [touchdown] drive, that’s Michigan football right there. That’s the momentum we needed. “Warren stated he felt”a variety of feelings”when learning that he had won the starting task and assessed his journey and those who had helped

him. He was identified with leukemia in March 2019 and went through chemotherapy before going back to play four games throughout the 2019 season. His 2020 high school season was erased by COVID-19. Before Friday’s practice at Michigan, Warren checked out with Finn Kennedy, a 14-year-old from Colorado who was born with Down syndrome and was diagnosed with leukemia

in 2022.”Me and Coach Moore had a fun time with him,” Warren said. “That simply keeps putting things in perspective for me, and just reminds me of why I wish to be out there

every day, and work my tail off for these guys and this group. And I believe it helped with the nerves a little bit, feeling in one’s bones that I’m ready for this opportunity.”Although Warren took the very first snaps for Michigan, Orji ended up the team’s opening drive with a 3-yard goal pass to Donovan Edwards.

Orji, utilized as a change-up running quarterback in 2023 behind McCarthy, had five runs for 32 lawns while attempting just one other pass.Warren stated he didn’t believe being subbed in for Orji disrupted the offense’s rhythm.”It’s football, “Moore said.”It’s not constantly going to be perfect. It’s going to be up and down.

I thought the playcallers did a fantastic task, and we’ve got to execute their playcalls, whether it

‘s offense or defense.”Kalel Mullings led Michigan’s run game with 92 yards on 15 brings, but the Wolverines, including a new-look offensive line, averaged simply 4.4 lawns per rush, and Edwards had a hard time to start.

Michigan had 3 offensive linemen from the nationwide title team selected in April’s NFL draft.The Wolverines lastly understand their quarterback in Warren but most likely requirement to recapture more constant physical play as they prepare to host No. 4 Texas, which opened its season with a 52-0 win versus Colorado State.” It existed at times,

and we lacked it in some cases, too,”Loveland said.”Perhaps someone didn’t pressure, whether that’s tight end, O-line or receivers, didn’t stress enough. However we type of got it together there at the end. … Like everybody’s saying, a lot of meat on the bone. We can strain a little harder, as a whole. “