It’s no secret that the quarterback battle is the hottest topic for Michigan heading into the 2024 season. Although there are technically five candidates battling for the QB1 spot this fall, it appears that there are two guys who are currently leading the pack – junior Alex Orji and senior Davis Warren. Both quarterbacks put together solid performances during Michigan’s spring game on April 20, albeit in different ways.
Warren was the most productive quarterback through the air on Saturday, completing 6-of-9 attempts for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He looked calm in the pocket, and made a number of accurate throws while facing pressure. Even though Warren has only appeared in eight games during his first three seasons at Michigan, you can tell that his overall experience and time within the program is working to his advantage.
Orji also looked good through the air on Saturday, completing 13-of-18 attempts for 103 yards – but it was that added element of his rushing ability that continues to separate him from the rest of the pack. Orji opened the game with an 18 yard rushing touchdown, and showed multiple times throughout the afternoon that he can extend plays with his legs – something Michigan fans are well aware of following the 2023 season. For Orji, the biggest question heading into the spring game was whether or not he can be consistent enough through the air to be QB1 this fall.
Meeting with the media following the game, Orji addressed a number of topics from spring ball – including the quarterback battle specifically.
On his spring game performance
“I was just saying to the other guys, it’s just one of fifteen practices. I think we did…it was pretty on-par with how we are. Mistakes are going to be made here and there, and it was a little more competitive with the whole Maize and Blue setup of it, but I think it was awesome – especially from the boys in white today. We’re a real tight family, the QB group. So I think it was awesome to get me, Jayden, Jadyn, and Davis out there just rolling, and get full drives put together. So I think it’s awesome for our room. It’s a testament to Coach Campbell and how he prepares us.”
On the offensive line
“I’m sure you all already knew this, but Josh Priebe is going to be a dawg for us. He’s going to be a monster. Myles Hinton, if you’ve ever seen him, I don’t really have to say too much. So the guys that are stepping up, Raheem Anderson and Greg Crippen, it’s awesome to see those guys do what they do at a high level – especially just being violent. You know who are head coach is now, so those guys are going to have to step up. That’s just what it is. Even guys like Gio (El-Hadi) who weren’t taking the most reps being a leader. Stepping into those roles, it’s just awesome to see from those guys.”
On whether or not he can push the ball down the field through the air
“Uh, yeah. I think I can pretty decently. Especially, another testament to Coach Campbell, just instilling the confidence in me. Between Coach Campbell, Coach Moore, and then today, Coach Newsome, letting me know that the whole playbook is open. Whatever it was before, throughout the start of this spring, I think Coach Campbell has really helped me a lot with just being comfortable in certain situations and feeling out the field. It always comes with reps.”
On the QB family at Michigan
“Learning from the other guys in the room, a really underrated part of having a QB family. Learning last year from JJ (McCarthy), or course a ton from him specifically. How to get the ball out on the run. And then you saw Davis’s deep ball today, I mean he’s the guru of all things QB mechanics, so he’s awesome to talk to. And then Jayden Denegal, as big of an arm as anyone. So, talking to the guys and just getting different stuff from them, whoever comes out on Saturday’s is a summation of the whole room put together.”
The balance between running and throwing
“I think just getting reps and feeling natural in there. I think that, whether it’s a called QB run play that’s on the coaches, if they call it, they’ve got confidence in me to take the offense forward. If it’s a pass, get the ball out. There’s going to be times when it’s a pass play and it’s time to scramble. So I think that’s another thing that Coach Campbell has talked to us about as a whole unit, a whole group – being smart, there’s no reason to hang on in the pocket for no reason trying to prove this and that. When it’s time to go, sometimes that will be the best checkdown available.”
On the off season work he’s done to try and earn the starting job
“I think, just in general, everything comes with reps. Just getting comfortable with doing certain things. Working on the short, intermediate, the deep. Coach Campbell and I talked before the spring started, throughout the spring, we’re going to talk tomorrow. He’s a great role model for us to follow. He’s always available to talk to. Like I said, me and Jayden Denegal live together. We’re roommates, so we’re always talking. We got a white board and we’re writing stuff up all the time. We can call Coach Kirk, you know, as late as 11 o’clock. We can call him whenever, really. He’s always helping us out, whether it’s just like…not necessarily physical reps, but mental reps, and feeling different stuff out. So that’s the biggest thing, and getting JJ (McCarthy) around for a few practices, him being around and helping all of us out. It’s just being able to be a sponge that you can absorb stuff, and you can also get squeezed out and give it to other people.”
