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Alex Orji opted to head for the exits rather than await his fate at Michigan.

Faced with a backup role or position switch after the Wolverines signed No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood, Orji became the second Wolverines quarterback to choose the transfer portal.

Head coach Sherrone Moore said this week that Davis Warren, who fell into a timeshare with Orji and Jack Tuttle for parts of the regular season, was preparing to start in the Wolverines’ bowl game.

A junior who started three games after Warren’s rocky start, Orji rushed for 260 yards and a touchdown in 2024. He completed only 23 of his 44 passes — setting career-highs with 10 completions, 18 attempts and 86 yards at Minnesota — with a touchdown and an interception. Orji’s longest career completion — also against the Golden Gophers — went for 16 yards.

A star high school quarterback in Texas, Orji rushed for 1,187 yards with 24 touchdowns as a senior. He played in nine games prior to the 2024 season.

Tuttle retired from football in October because of his fifth career concussion. Another Michigan junior quarterback, Jayden Denegal, confirmed earlier this week he entered the transfer portal.

Underwood, an in-state prospect originally committed to LSU, made a dramatic decision one week before early signing day to stay home and play for the Wolverines. LSU blasted the decision and program after reports surfaced that Underwood was paid over $10 million in NIL guarantees to jump to Michigan.

Quarterback play was inconsistent for Michigan with previous starter JJ McCarthy off to the NFL as a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings.

In addition to Underwood, Michigan signed quarterback Chase Herbstreit, son of Kirk Herbstreit, in the 2025 class.

–Field Level Media