Who Is Michigan's Starting Quarterback? 2024 College Football Outlook

With all of the controversy surrounding the defending national champions, as they gear up for 2024, the Michigan Wolverines will look to block out the noise and stay focused as they attempt to repeat as champs.

The Wolverines are expected to take a massive step back this season, as it appears that only five starters from last season’s championship team are back. Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter are gone as well, leaving this year’s edition of the Wolverines a tall task to continue to compete at the level that they did a season ago.

With J.J. McCarthy off to the NFL, the Wolverines have an active quarterback battle between junior Alex Orji and seventh-year Jack Tuttle.

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Who Is Michigan’s Starting Quarterback in 2024?

Alex Orji grades as a freak athlete and is the current favorite to start for Michigan in 2024. Orji played sparingly in sets a season ago, notably ripping off a 20-yard run in the win over Ohio State. He has only attempted one pass in his career, completing a five-yard pass against UConn in 2022. 

Jack Tuttle has been in college football since 2018 when he signed with Utah. After not playing as a true freshman, he transferred to Indiana where he started a few games after Michael Penix Jr. suffered injuries. Tuttle was underwhelming as a Hoosier, throwing for a total of 901 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions over four seasons. He transferred to Michigan last year and was solid in relief of McCarthy.

Michigan's plan to find a starting quarterback is to give first-team reps to each guy, oldest to youngest.

Jack Tuttle, Davis Warren, Alex Orji, Jayden Denegal, and Jadyn Davis will all run with the starters. pic.twitter.com/sMQSbdOzza

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) July 31, 2024

Also on the roster are senior Davis Warren, junior Jayden Denegal, and freshman Jadyn Davis.

While Orji is the current favorite to land the job this season, there have been recent rumblings in support of Tuttle. The seventh-year senior should not be counted out of the race just yet. It appears that the quarterback competition could drag all the way up to Week 1 when Michigan plays Fresno State. Keep an eye on who the defending champs elect to name their starting quarterback.

More Fantasy Football Analysis