Alexander Orji (born November 10, 2003) is an American football quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines. He won a national championship with Michigan in 2023.
| Michigan Wolverines – No. 10 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Class | Junior |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | November 10, 2003 |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 236 lb (107 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College | Michigan (2022–present) |
| Bowl games | |
| High school | Sachse (Sachse, Texas) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life and high school
Orji attended Sachse High School in Sachse, Texas. He started his junior year and senior year, completing 226 of his 436 passes for 3,467 yards and 38 touchdowns. While also rushing for 2,113 yards and 39 touchdowns.[1] Orji was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports,[2] and a four-star recruit by ESPN, which ranked him #251 overall.[3] He originally committed to play college football for Virginia Tech,[4][5] but de-committed from the Hokies and signed with the Michigan Wolverines.[6][7][8]
College career
Orji enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2022. As a true freshman, he rushed six times for 37 yards and two touchdowns, while also completing his only pass attempt for five yards.[9] Orji scored his first career touchdown in his first career game, versus Colorado State on September 3, 2022.
In 2023, Orji was J. J. McCarthy’s back-up, finishing Michigan’s national championship season with 15 rushes for 86 yards and a touchdown. He did not attempt a pass. In week 8, Orji carried the ball five times for 27 yards and a touchdown in a win over rival Michigan State.[10] In the week 13 victory versus Ohio State he rushed twice for 22 yards,[11] also rushing twice for 15 yards in the national championship game victory versus the Washington Huskies.
As a junior, Orji entered as the favorite to replace McCarthy as Michigan’s starting quarterback in 2024, competing with Jack Tuttle, Davis Warren and Jayden Denegal.[12][13]
Personal life
Orji has two older brothers, Anfernee and Alston.[14] Anfernee plays for the New Orleans Saints as a linebacker.[15] Alston played linebacker for Vanderbilt and Campbell.[16]