As Alex Orji works to earn the starting quarterback position at Michigan, the junior reflected on a football journey that could have taken a different path.
Hailing from Sachse High School in Texas, Orji spent the first half of his high school career playing receiver and various other positions. It wasn’t until his junior and senior years that he transitioned to quarterback, though he wasn’t recruited for that role until late in the process.
“It was almost as late as it could be. ‘Athlete’ was always listed next to my name,” Orji shared on a recent episode of “Behind The Uniform” with TMI. “In high school, all I wanted to do was prove I wasn’t just an athlete.”
He added, “I wanted to be recognized as a quarterback, so anytime I was considered a dual threat, I appreciated it. I’d always say ‘thank you’ just for acknowledging me as a quarterback. I knew I was a dual threat, but I also wanted people to know I could throw the ball.”
When Jim Harbaugh and Michigan offered Orji in 2021, they stood out for recognizing him solely as a quarterback.
“Some schools talked to Orji about playing other positions, but he was determined to stick with quarterback,” wrote Mike Roach of 247Sports at the time of Michigan’s offer.
It’s easy to see why other programs might have seen Orji in a different position. At an Elite 11 event in April 2021, he ran a 4.73-second 40-yard dash, a 4.59-second shuttle, and recorded a 37-inch vertical jump. This combination of speed and agility made him an intriguing prospect for various roles.
But Orji’s heart was set on being a quarterback. Initially committed to Virginia Tech, another program that viewed him as a QB, the Wolverines managed to flip his commitment on National Signing Day.
“Coach Harbaugh was consistently reaching out, letting me know how he felt about me, even down to the final moments of the recruiting process,” Orji recalled. “I still text him, and it’s great to have someone who believed in me and always had that confidence.”
As Orji prepares for the 2024 season, he continues to face questions about his passing abilities. His college stats show just one pass attempt compared to 17 rushes in his first two years with the Wolverines, and he admitted that adjusting to fundamentals and consistency in Ann Arbor has been challenging.
However, Orji has embraced his identity as a player. He’s a quarterback who is also an exceptional athlete.
“There were times when I felt like I had to downplay my athleticism to prove I was a quarterback,” Orji said. “People often doubted my ability to play quarterback at a high level because of my body type, athleticism, or speed.”
He continued, “For a long time, I tried to change that narrative, but eventually, I embraced the fact that I’m athletic, strong, big, and a Black quarterback. It wasn’t easy to accept, but through maturity, I got there.”
“You can’t ignore it; it’s the elephant in the room. Michigan always talked to me about how they saw my abilities fitting into the scheme. Now, with Coach Kirk Campbell, everything he’s worked on with me will come to light on the field.”
