It’s loud in the Michigan Stadium, and history loves to rhyme— not too long ago, the spotlight was on a young quarterback called J.J. McCarthy, who was eager to flex his muscles. Over time, people began to hear murmurs about the limitations of the system in which he played, and fans became eager to see what he could do in a more open system.

Fast forward to today, and we have Alex Orji, who gets to follow in the footsteps of McCarthy. That’s a clear case of the chance of a lifetime—but can Orji learn from the shortcomings of his role model? For the game of the year, facing USC, the teams could not have had a lower margin of error. For Orji, this is an opportunity to write his script and possibly have a shot at a career in the NFL.

It’s the start of a new chapter for Michigan, as they are set to use Alex Orji as their starting quarterback. With Michigan Wolverines preparing for the showdown against USC, all responsibility will shift on Orji to deliver the best. HC Sherrone Moore has a clear vision for him: “Play loose, take care of the football, play free, have fun, play the game”, he told Jenny Dell. It is not just a game for Orji; it is a way of ensuring his football future because opportunities do not always come.

For McCarthy, we have seen him expected to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, but there have been some murmurs that he could have been restricted a little by Jim Harbaugh’s slow play calling. Some scouts said McCarthy had “high-level traits,” but they never manifested because of the offense. Now, with Alex Orji coming into the light, Moore wants to use this as an opportunity not to go through some of the same things that may have halted McCarthy’s development.

There is always something exciting brewing for the Wolverines as they prepare for this weekend’s game against USC. As for Orji, time comes at the stake. People are excited at what he can do on the field. Orji is bringing some swag to the field. He’s got the physical attributes at 6’3”, 233lbs, and with two touchdowns this season, he is ready to take charge.

What’s at stake for Alex Orji

The path of Alex Orji for Sherrone Moore has been full of hurdles. His choice of Davis Warren was debatable from the start. To add to Moore’s woes, Warren never looked comfortable this season. It was probably his worst showing in Week 3, in a game that Michigan ultimately won. But the damage was done! Moore had seen enough as replaced Warren with Orji midgame.

Before the matchup with USC, Moore confirmed to the press that Alex Orji would be his starting QB. It’s a lot of pressure for a young man who was looking at the game from the sidelines just a week ago. The eyes are always on the Wolverines! and why not? They’re a legacy team, the current national champions!

What does a good game look like for Orji? Well, to start, no interceptions, please! Nothing is more damaging to a defense more than your own QB helping the opposition. To add to that, we have heard about his dual threat. Let’s see that on the field. Use your feet, extend the plays, and help on some crucial third downs. His passing is not bad, either. That’ll be needed, too. The USC defense is coming off a good start. They’re no longer scared of the ‘Bully Ball’ of the big boys!

Can Alex Orji step up to the challenge and make a good impression? The proper guidance from Moore, he has the opportunity, for people to see that he is not just a fill-in, he can be the next big star. It is now time for Orji to take center stage and shine

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