Alex Orji, the Michigan Wolverines quarterback, is already leaving his mark on the gridiron and the hearts of his fans. Orji, a former four-star recruit per ESPN, made his impact in six games as a quarterback last fall as a backup for J. J. McCarthy. He ran the ball 15 times and racked up 86 yards. The sophomore QB wrapped up Michigan’s national championship season by snagging a touchdown that earned him his second varsity letter.

A football player with some serious athletic prowess, Orji has even been compared with Alabama’s star QB Jalen Milroe. Everyone who has witnessed Orji on the gridiron has strongly contended that he is a promising starting quarterback prospect for Michigan. Orji, who played as a run-only quarterback for the Wolverines last season, took it a higher during the spring drills.

Orji impressed as a dual-threat quarterback for the Wolverines in the spring game back in April. He managed many drives and completed 13 of 18 passes for 103 yards. Oh, and he also grabbed an 18-yard rushing touchdown. It has not always been like this, as the promising quarterback had humble beginnings. As Orji puts on his Wolverines jersey for another incredible season, here’s what you need to know about the potential starting quarterback for the defending champion Michigan.

Orji has maintained a balance between his love for football and his academics

Born to Willy and Mariam Orji, Alex grew up playing football in the neighborhoods of Sachse, Texas. At Sachse High School, Mark Behrens coached young Orji and brought the best out of him. While continuing to excel in his studies, Orji kicked off his junior and senior years strong under Behrens’s guidance. He tossed 226 completions out of 436 passes for a cool 3,467 yards and 38 touchdowns. Not only that, but the young quarterback also turned heads with his rushing game, racking up 2,113 yards and 39 touchdowns. He also played a key role in taking the Mustangs to a solid 7-4 record and a spot in the UIL 6A Bi-District Playoffs.

Orji is entering the world of communication and media at the School of Literature, Science, and the Arts at Michigan University. That’s an incredible career choice for the quarterback who has always been passionate about storytelling and the media. From his days on the field, where he learned to handle the spotlight, he’s now channeling that energy and experience into his studies. Orji believes it’s all about taking those skills and experiences and turning them into something creative and impactful.

The Wolverines are already in praise of Orji

The Wolverines quarterback has indeed made an impact on the squad, as all his teammates could not help but praise young Orji. Tyler Morris, Orji’s teammate and an elite WR, said, “He’s just a lot more detailed, definitely made a lot of great throws this fall.”

Morris also reflected on his time watching Orji play on the gridiron during the drills, “I think every day it’s been growing for him and he’s continuing to build and work on areas of his game that he might’ve struggled in before, but also keeping strong in the areas that he was good in.”

Even Wolverine veteran DB Quinten Johnson remarked on Orji’s performance: “Orji definitely presents a difficult style of football you’ve got to play against, especially from his ability to run.” 

Undoubtedly, Orji will bring up his A-game this season and take himself and the Wolverines to new heights. Morris said, “He’s going to open the offense up a little more and maybe we’ll throw in some things and try some things that maybe we hadn’t in the past couple of years.” It will indeed be thrilling to see how Orji claws against his opponents in the No. 10 Wolverines jersey.