Former Michigan quarterback Alex Orji has dedicated to UNLV, he advised ESPN. The one-time blue-chip recruit began three video games for the Wolverines and got here off the bench to steer Michigan to a ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama. 

Orji was thought of the heavy favourite to win the beginning quarterback job for Michigan in 2024 after serving as the first backup. Nonetheless, he was unimpressive in follow and misplaced the place to former walk-on Davis Warren. Orji performed in 11 video games for the Wolverines, however his passing manufacturing remained a substantial weak spot. 

In 20 profession video games, Orji threw solely 48 passes and hit 155 yards. The mark was ok for a paltry 3.2 yards per cross try, together with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Orji does rank among the many most athletic signal-callers within the nation, although, and is a profession 5.0 yards per carry runner. 

Now, Orji joins first-year UNLV coach Dan Mullen on a Rebels workforce set to lose prime quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams to commencement. The Rebels are 20-8 over the previous two seasons and reached a postseason rating for the primary time in FBS historical past after beating California within the LA Bowl. Mullen is 103-61 in 13 seasons as a coach, all within the SEC. 

Are Orji’s limitations fixable?

Mullen is a widely known quarterback developer, however he does have expertise working with lackluster passers. At Mississippi State, Nick Fitzgerald was a 54.2% profession passer. In his remaining two seasons, Mullen helped coach Fitzgerald to 17 wins in a two-year interval because of greater than 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns on the bottom. 

Orji’s passing points date again to his time in highschool. As a senior enjoying Texas highschool soccer, Orji accomplished solely 51% of his passes. Any teaching workers taking his dedication should know that the passing sport is unlikely to come back alongside. 

Underwood up subsequent for Michigan?

Regardless of going to the switch portal, Orji stayed with the workforce and performed significant snaps within the ReliaQuest Bowl. Contemplating that stretch ended with 11 yards and an interception on seven touches, it is an indicator of the shortage of belief the workers nonetheless has within the remaining quarterback room. 

After shedding Orji and Jayden Denegal to the switch portal, Michigan reloaded with No. 1 total recruit, Bryce Underwood, an early enrollee. Moreover, the Wolverines added Fresno State quarterback switch Mikey Keene, who threw for almost 6,000 yards and 40 touchdowns over the previous two seasons. 

Underclassman Jadyn Davis stays on the roster after redshirting in 2024. If he could not get onto the sector after the disastrous run of Michigan quarterbacks in 2023, although, it is unlikely he’ll take the requisite step to surpass Keene or Underwood in 2025.