The Michigan Wolverines offense struggled all season. A big part of their struggles centered around the quarterback position. After JJ McCarthy left for the NFL, there was an open competition. Head coach Sherrone Moore used three different quarterbacks throughout the season, none proving effective. One of the favorites in the preseason was junior Alex Orji. Fans and analysts liked this running ability, especially on the Michigan offense. Unfortunately, he was too one-dimensional. While his running ability was good, his passing was abysmal. After a rough season in Ann Arbor, Orji announced he would be entering the transfer portal.
Michigan Wolverines QB Alex Orji Enters Transfer Portal
This isn’t a surprise. The Michigan Wolverines have been aggressively looking to upgrade the quarterback position this season on the recruiting trail. They were able to flip number one overall recruit Bryce Underwood from LSU, and many other quarterbacks in the transfer portal have been giving the Wolverines a look. There is no way Alex Orji is going to see significant game action next year. He will look to head elsewhere, possibly to an offense that better fits his skillset.
Orji started three games and did go 2-1 in those starts. However, the wins were hardly because of his play. In their huge win against USC, he only completed seven passes for 32 yards. It was the heroics of the offensive line and running backs. Kalel Mullings rushed for 159, including a 63-yard run to set up the game-winning score. Donovan Edwards added another 74 yards on the ground. The rushing attack and solid defense was what propelled the Wolverines to victory. Orji was used in special situations throughout the year and ended with 148 yards passing, 260 yards rushing, and one score.
Not A Loss For The Wolverines
It’s hard to see the Michigan Wolverines and their fans being heartbroken about Alex Orji entering the transfer portal. The passing game as a whole is something fans would like to forget from this year. As a team, the offense only averaged 133.6 net passing yards per game. This was a huge dropoff from last year. The run game defined the national championship-winning team, but they still managed to average 213.7 net passing yards per game. The team will look to have a more explosive offense next year.
The Michigan Wolverines have already been active in the transfer portal. Today, they landed Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley, the 6-foot-5, 203-pound player who caught 48 passes for 644 yards and six touchdowns. While the quarterback position struggled for the Wolverines, the wide receiver room left much to be desired. Moore has already decided to change his offensive coordinator, so the Wolverines hope for a better offense in 2025.
Final Thoughts
There were many things that went wrong for the Michigan Wolverines this year. However, they still managed to go 7-5 and beat Michigan State and Ohio State. For fans of the program, this isn’t a bad year. There is a ton of optimism surrounding the program. Moore has shown he can win big games. He has also shown he can recruit well. Next year, the team hopes to be back in the conversation for the Big Ten championship.
