Michigan quarterback Alex Orji saw action in nine offensive snaps during the Wolverines’ season-opening win over Fresno State, and it appears that his role could expand as…
Michigan quarterback Alex Orji saw action in nine offensive snaps during the Wolverines’ season opener against Fresno State, and his involvement is expected to grow as the season progresses.
On the “Inside Michigan Football” show, head coach Sherrone Moore hinted at the team’s plans for the junior quarterback, who was the runner-up in the fall camp QB competition behind Davis Warren.
“He’ll have an extensive package in games, and it’ll expand with each game,” Moore said.
Orji recorded 32 yards on five carries (6.4 yards per carry) and threw a first-quarter touchdown pass to Donovan Edwards on a scripted red-zone play-action.
“He averaged about six yards per carry and threw the touchdown pass, so he did really well,” Moore said.
“We had a plan for when to bring him in. For his first snap, he executed the play-action pass perfectly, catching the defense off-guard. Donovan did a great job making the catch.”
When Orji was on the sideline, Davis Warren took most of the snaps, completing 15 of 25 passes for 118 yards, a touchdown, and an interception on a deep pass to Fred Moore.
“I thought Davis managed the game well,” Moore said. “He probably wishes he could have that deep post throw back, maybe with a bit more air under it. But the route could have been run better too, so it’s a shared responsibility. Overall, he stayed calm and kept the offense moving.”
Regarding the QB rotation, Moore emphasized finding a balance between the two quarterbacks.
“There’ll be a rhythm. We’ll have some plays scripted, but it’s about finding the right moments to use each QB to keep the team on track,” Moore explained. “We need to maintain Davis’s rhythm while integrating Alex effectively.”
Moore also touched on the broader offensive strategy, noting the need to improve details and communication, especially in the running game. He expressed a desire to involve receivers Semaj Morgan and Tyler Morris more frequently to alleviate pressure on tight end Colston Loveland, who caught eight passes for 87 yards against Fresno State.
“Offensively, it’s about making sure we have the right players in the right positions and getting the ball to our playmakers,” Moore concluded.
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