The Michigan Wolverines now 2-1 after a win last weekend over Arkansas State are heading into a big matchup this weekend as they open Conference play against a new member in the USC Trojans who enter this weekend’s matchup at 2-0. This game is a big one as Michigan still has Oregon, and Ohio State on their schedule coming up with both games taking place in November, if Michigan wants to have a chance to defend their Big Ten title, they will need to pick up a win this weekend over the Trojans. The one key entering this week will be quarterback play and with that head coach Sherrone Moore has decided it’s time to make a change as Senior Davis Warren is being benched for Junior Alex Orji. Warren has started the first three games of the season throwing for 444 yards, but he has two touchdowns and six interceptions; against Arkansas State last weekend he threw for 122 yards no touchdowns, and three interceptions which led to him being benched in favor of Orji. Orji last weekend in the Michigan win threw for 12 yards on two completed passes and had a touchdown, he also provides dual-threat ability as he ran for 27 yards on three carries last week. This change will also mess with USC’s game plan because Orji can throw but also beat you with his legs instead of someone like Warren, so will USC be up to the challenge or can Michigan pull off a win at home to kick off Big Ten play?
Alex Orji
Orji was recruited from Sachse, Texas where he attended Sachse High School. He started his junior and season years where he completed 212 of his 422 passes for 3,185 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions; he also rushed for 1,993 yards with 36 touchdowns. In his senior year, he threw for 1,782 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions; he rushed for 1,067 yards with 21 touchdowns. In 2022 at Michigan, he attempted one pass which he completed for five yards, he also ran six times for 37 yards and two touchdowns. In 2023 his lone pass attempt went for a sack, he did rush for 86 yards on 15 carries and had a touchdown. This season he is three of six for 15 yards with two touchdowns and on the ground, he has ten carries for 58 yards.
Davis Warren
Warren is a feel-good story as he beat leukemia which he was diagnosed with during his junior season of high school, he would appear in four games that season completing 32 of 49 passes for 607 yards. He would end up being a walk-on at Michigan, in 2022 he attempted nine passes completing five of them for 89 yards, and he ran for 30 yards on three carries. Last season he attempted five passes and didn’t complete one and threw an interception, he also ran the ball twice for negative four yards.
