Wolverines make QB switch, to begin Orji vs

• Paolo Uggetti, ESPNSep 16, 2024, 12:42 PM ET

No. 18 Michigan is making a change at quarterback ahead of its Big Ten opener, switching to junior Alex Orji for its game on Saturday against No. 11 USC, coach Sherrone Moore revealed Monday.Orji will replace

senior Davis Warren, a former walk-on, for one of the Wolverines’ biggest matchups of the season.

“Thrilled for him,” Moore said of Orji. “I understand he’s chomping at the bit.”

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Warren is balancing 148 backyards per game and has actually thrown for only 2 touchdowns with 6 interceptions in three games this season, consisting of a 31-10 loss in the house to Texas. Warren’s QBR is 35.3, which ranks 103rd in the country.Warren had 3

interceptions and just 122 passing backyards in a 28-18 success over Arkansas State recently.

“I wouldn’t call them an issue,” Moore stated of the position. “We’re simply going to go to work. So we’ll get better as we performed in the running game recently. We’ll get better in the passing game and we’ll continue to aim forward.”

Orji, for his part, has actually seen only minimal touches, tossing the ball 6 times and carrying it 10, albeit for an average of 5.8 lawns per carry. His dual-threat potential could offer the Wolverines a much-needed shock after losing J.J. McCarthy (19 passing goals, 3 hurrying goals in 2023) to the NFL.

“Would like to see him just take the reins and do what he’s been doing,” Moore said.Orji did not have a single passing effort last season, however he hurried 26 times for 155 yards. This year, Orji has the exact same number of passing goals as Warren and no interceptions.