The Michigan football team has a quarterback competition this offseason, and while it should last awhile, most people are expecting Alex Orji to end up winning the job. Orji certainly has the most meaningful Michigan playing experience as he came in during big situations multiple times last season, but always as a runner. Wolverines fans hadn't really seen him throw until the spring game that took place a couple weeks ago, and that is certainly a question mark that is surrounding him.
Alex Orji showed off a lot of strengths last season when he did come into games, but throwing the football wasn't one of them. It wasn't because that was a weakness, it was just that Orji was only asked to run the football, and he did a very good job with that.
Orji is often regarded as the best athlete on the Michigan football team and his size and speed make him a huge threat in the run game. However, he has to be able to throw the football as well if he is going to win this starting job. That is the big question mark, and after the spring game, it sounded like Orji is getting comfortable with that part of his game.
“Another testament to coach [Kirk] Campbell, just instilling the confidence in me,” Orji said after the spring game in regards to his comfortability throwing the football. “Between coach Campbell, coach [Sherrone] Moore and today coach [Grant] Newsome letting me know that whole playbook is open. Whatever it was before, like throughout the spring I think that coach Campbell has really helped me a lot with just being comfortbale in certain situations and feeling out the feel. It always comes with reps, it's been awesome, especially learning from the other guys in the room, really underrated part of having a QB family. Learning last year from JJ [McCarthy] of course, a ton from him, specifically how to get the ball out on the run. …Talking with the guys and getting different stuff from them.”
Alex Orji has worked on the mental side of the game a lot this offseason
This is obviously a crucial offseason for Alex Orji and the Michigan football quarterback room. There is a lot of work to be done physically to get ready for next season, but the mental side of the game is very important as well. This entire QB room is very familiar with that because of JJ McCarthy, who meditated on the field before every game. Orji was asked about what he has done this offseason to take the next step as a passer, and learning from other people, like McCarthy, has been big for him.
“I think in general, everything comes with reps, just getting comfortable with certain things, working on the short, intermediate and deep,” Orji said. “Coach [Kirk] Campbell and I talked before the spring, throughout the spring, we're going to talk tomorrow. He's a great role model for us, he's always available to talk to. …We can call him whenever, really, he's always helping us out with, not necessarily physical reps but mental reps, feeling different stuff out. I think that's the biggest thing, and then getting JJ [McCarthy] around for a few practices, helping all of us out. It's just being able to be a sponge so you can absorb stuff and also get squeezed out and dish it out to other people.”
There is a competition between all of these QBs, but it is also clear that all of these guys want what's best for the team, and they all want to help each other. After all, Orji did note that it is a family.
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