Wolverine Digest

Michigan Football: Sherrone Moore's message to those who doubt Alex Orji

Chris Breiler

Michigan quarterback Alex Orji (10) warms up before the Indiana game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Michigan quarterback Alex Orji (10) warms up before the Indiana game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
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After another shaky performance through the air against Arkansas State on Saturday, Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore announced on Monday that he was making a change at quarterback.

"Alex [Orji] will start on Saturday," Moore said. "I'm excited for him. He's been in here champing at the bit, so we'll move on from there."

Although many are excited to see a change at QB, there's a belief within the Michigan fan base that Alex Orji simply can't throw the football. The critics point to a low completion percentage in high school, along with the fact that Orji has just seven career attempts through three years as evidence that he's not a weapon with his arm. Moore addressed those critics directly on Monday.

"Yeah, I think they'll find out real quick that he can throw the football," Moore said. "But, you know, people have their opinions on it, but he definitely can throw. He'll make some big throws in this game."

As for what went into his decision to make the switch heading into a big matchup against No. 11 USC, Moore says that ball security is at the top of the list. Through three weeks, senior QB Davis Warren has thrown six interceptions - a mark that leads all quarterbacks within the Big Ten. Although not all of those interceptions are entirely on Warren, the reality is that the turnovers have been one of the biggest concerns with this Michigan offense so far. While Orji's reps have been limited, he's yet to put the ball in harms way.

"When he's been in the game, he's taken care of it," Moore said. "So, that's a big piece for us. We're going to continue to do that and be in a good place."

So what can Michigan fans expect from an Alex Orji-led offense? Will it look similar to what we saw with Warren behind center, or does Michigan have a different plan with Orji now leading the way? Moore addressed that as well.

"No, we've got it all installed," Moore said of the gameplan. "The offense is ready to go for him, and we've got everything adjusted for him and his skill set."

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Chris Breiler
CHRIS BREILER

Christopher Breiler launched Winged Helmet Media and began covering the Michigan Football program in an unofficial capacity in 2017. He then joined Wolverine Digest as part of the FanNation network in 2021 as a contributing writer, where he served as both a writer and a photographer on game days. In 2024, he took over as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI. His love for Michigan Football brought him into the industry, and his passion for being a content creator has led to some amazing experiences along the way.

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