5-star Longhorns signee Kaliq Lockett sends 3-word message as Michigan QB Alex Orji plans to enter transfer portal

Michigan quarterback Alex Orji is set to explore new opportunities as he is set to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per On3. Orji departs Michigan after participating in 20 games over three seasons, including three starts.

Kaliq Lockett, a recent Texas Longhorns commit and a rising star from Sachse High School in Texas, responded to Orji’s announcement with a heartfelt Instagram story.

“Gods plan brada,” Lockett wrote.

Image via Ig@k5liq_

Lockett, a top-tier wide receiver in the 2025 recruiting class, is ranked as the No. 2 player in his position and No. 12 overall nationally. This season, he further solidified his reputation by scoring seven touchdowns for Sachse.

Orji began his collegiate journey as a four-star recruit ranked No. 391 overall in the 2022 class by the On3 Industry Rankings. Before joining Michigan, Orji made a significant impact at Sachse High School, passing for 2,064 yards with 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions during his senior year. He also excelled in the run game, amassing 1,187 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.

As a freshman in 2022, Orji appeared in three games, rushing six times for 37 yards and scoring twice. By 2023, he was utilized as a change-of-pace quarterback, contributing 86 rushing yards on 15 carries and aiding Michigan’s run to a national championship.

Alex Orji seeks new opportunity after limited role at Michigan

Alex Orji’s time at Michigan saw him primarily serving in a backup role during his first two seasons, with limited opportunities to showcase his skills. Entering games mainly for designed runs, he was buried on the depth chart early in his career.

In 2024, Orji stepped into a more active role, initially serving as senior quarterback Davis Warren’s backup. He contributed in the run game and threw Michigan’s first touchdown pass of the season.

Alex Orji became Michigan’s third-leading rusher with 260 yards and its third-leading passer, throwing for 148 yards and completing 52.27% of his passes. Taking over as the starting quarterback in Week 4, he led the Wolverines to close victories over Southern California and Minnesota.

However, his struggles against Washington led to his benching in favor of graduate QB Jack Tuttle. Orji’s passing performances never exceeded 100 yards in a single game, and he returned to a backup role for the remainder of the season.

With the arrival of top-ranked quarterback Bryce Underwood and Michigan’s plans to pursue a veteran transfer QB for 2025, Alex Orji likely faced another year on the sidelines. By entering the transfer portal, he aims to find a program that offers him greater opportunities to play.