What is Alex Orji's 40-yard dash time? Learn more about Michigan QB's athleticism
Alex Orji will be the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines' starting quarterback against the No. 11 USC Trojans on Saturday. This comes after the previous starting QB, Davis Warren, threw three interceptions in last week's 28-18 win against Arkansas State.
According to draftscout.com, Orji completed his 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds. This lands him straight in comparison with highly accomplished Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who also has the 4.34-second 40-yard dash. Texas Longhorns backup QB Arch Manning did it in 4.6 seconds, per On3.
This season, Orji has been limited in terms of snaps. He has 15 passing yards and two touchdowns on 3-of-6 attempts. Meanwhile, he has 58 rushing yards on 10 carries.
Next week, he'll get a full-fledged opportunity against a ranked opponent in the Trojans. His impressive performance in this game will go a long way, as it will probably help him be the starting quarterback over Davis Warren for the season.
Sherrone Moore places his trust in Alex Orji while answering concerns from critics
Though not much has been seen of Alex Orji in college football, critics weren't happy with Sherrone Moore's decision to start Orji over Davis Warren for the high-voltage against the Trojans. However, Moore fired back at them, exuding confidence in Orji.
"Yeah, I think they'll find out real quick that he can throw the football, but you know, people have their opinions on it, but he definitely can throw it. He'll make some big throws this game," Moore told Brad Galli.
Further, Moore defended his decision to change his quarterback.
"Yeah, I think, you know, from a comfort standpoint for us, we can't turn the ball over. We know we have to do that. We have to take care of the football — that's the number one thing, especially with our quarterback," Moore said.
"So that was a huge point of emphasis, and when Orji won the game, he took care of it. He gives you something in the offense that's a little different, but we feel good with him, and the team will be confident in him."
Defending champions Michigan Wolverines haven't been the dominant version they were last season. Succeeding Jim Harbaugh as head coach, Sherrone Moore kicked off with a 30-10 win over Fresno State before dropping the game against the No. 1 Texas Longhorns in Week 2. Last week, they took down Arkansas State.
They are out of the playoff field but could storm back with wins over top programs like the Trojans.