By Apollo Lundin
Now former Michigan quarterback Alex Orji announced on X Saturday, January 11th, that he intends to transfer to UNLV. The announcement comes after almost a month of Orji entering the transfer portal and around four weeks after Jayden Dengal announced his intentions to transfer to San Diego State. With two Michigan quarterbacks out through the portal, and Davis Warren ending the season tearing his ACL, what does it mean for five-star incoming freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood?
It’s official.
Welcome to Las Vegas, @AlexORJ1 🎰 pic.twitter.com/Kt9anD0y7w
— UNLV Football (@unlvfootball) January 12, 2025
Alex Orji’s early career at Michigan
Orji was a three-star recruit coming out of Sachse High School in Sachse, TX. Although his ranking was not the highest, he was a sought-after prospect, tallying 11 offers from high-major programs before eventually choosing Michigan.
As a true freshman, Orji appeared in three games as future first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy was the starter. As a freshman, Orji tallied 37 yards and two touchdowns, both coming on the ground. As a sophomore, Orji was expected to have a similar role, and did, but became McCarthy’s primary back-up. Orji tallied 86 yards and one rushing touchdown while getting a front-row seat to a national championship win.
More Sports News
This Past Season for Alex Orji
Before his junior season, Orji was expected to be named the starter for Michigan in their first season in the post-Jim Harbaugh era. Instead, Senior quarterback Davis Warren was named the starter. In week one against Fresno State, Ojri still got snaps, tallying 32 rushing yards, 3 passing yards, and a passing touchdown. Orji played a few snaps every game before being named the starter in week four against the USC Trojans.
In his first game as a starter, Orji totaled just 32 passing yards, completed seven of 12 passes, and rushed for 43 yards in 13 attempts as the Wolverines beat the Trojans 27-24. In his second career start the next week, Orji added 86 passing yards, completed 10 of 18 passes, threw one touchdown and one interception, and added 12 yards on the ground in nine rushes. Orji was benched after the first quarter in the next game against Minnesota and never earned his starting spot back, but he did play snaps in every game as a rushing chance of pace for opposing defenses.
On December 13th, Orji announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal. On January 11th, he announced his commitment to UNLV. Orji heads to a UNLV team that had multiple players enter the portal mid-season, including QB Matthew Sluka, but ended the season 11-3 with a win in the LA Bowl.
What does this mean for Bryce Underwood?
Many people, including myself, thought Bryce Underwood, the top overall-ranked prospect in this recruiting cycle and former LSU commit, could be named the starter as a freshman. After Orji’s subpar play this season, the transfers of Denegal and Orji, and Davis Warren tearing his ACL, the path is set for Underwood to start right away. Pair that with the $10 million price tag Michigan gave Underwood to pry him away from the Tigers and anyone can realize that there is almost no way he doesn’t start in 2025 and beyond.
The Wolverines have their eyes set on success after a down year, and Bryce Underwood has his path to success lining up in his favor.
