Why is Alex Orji starting as Michigan QB over Davis Warren? A depth chart breakdown

The Michigan Wolverines are making a change this week at quarterback, starting Alex Orji over Davis Warren. Orji will get his first start for Michigan in an important game against the USC Trojans.

Warren won the starting job in training camp but has struggled the first few weeks. The coaching staff are now trying to stop the season from slipping away from them by making a QB change.

Why is Alex Orji starting as Michigan QB over Davis Warren?

The starting quarterback position was up for grabs this year, and it was a tight battle. The coaching staff did not give away who would be the starter for a long time until they eventually picked Davis Warren.

However, the decision did not last long as Warren was benched in the third quarter last week against Arkansas State after throwing his third interception of the game.

Warren has had a rough start to the season, throwing six interceptions and only two touchdowns. He has completed 48 of 72 passing attempts for 444 passing yards. Additionally, he has been sacked four times.

Head coach Sherrone Moore surprised reporters by announcing early in the week that Alex Orji would get the start against USC. He explained his decision by saying:

"For us, the players to see me announce it to everybody else, and understand the confidence I have in Alex. I think it was the important I did that. I just think it was an important thing for us to do as a program."

Alex Orji vs Davis Warren stats

Davis Warren has completed 48 of 72 passing attempts this season for a completion rate of 66.7%. He has thrown for 444 yards and two touchdowns while throwing two interceptions and getting sacked four times.

While Alex Orji was the backup quarterback for the first three games, he appeared in every Michigan game in limited minutes. In that limited time frame, he has completed three of six passing attempts for 15 yards.

He has the same number of passing touchdowns as Warren with two, and he has not thrown an interception or been sacked.

Michigan starting QB last 5 years

Orji is the sixth starting quarterback for Michigan in the last five years. Shea Patterson was the starting quarterback in 2019 and was followed by Joe Milton III in 2020.

Cade McNamara was the starting quarterback in 2021 and stayed with the team in 2022 but lost the job to J.J. McCarthy, who was the starting quarterback in 2022 and 2023.

This season, Warren won the starting job out of camp. However, he quickly lost the job to Orji after three games.