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Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is planning to us Alex Orji as a kick returner.
Orji is a 2nd-year quarterback that is stuck behind JJ McCarthy on the roster.
Heading into the 2023 college football season, Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines have plenty of weapons at their disposal.
It’s why the team is currently being projected to make a 3rd consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Despite the ton of talent on the squad, it appears Jim Harbaugh has decided the squad needed one more trick up their sleeve.
He revealed yesterday that he believes QB Alex Orji could be one of the best kick returners of all time.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh believes QB Alex Orji has a chance to be one of the greatest kick returners of all time.
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“A secret plan for Alex Orji. He’s got a chance to be maybe one of the greatest kick-returners of all time,” Harbaugh said via Maize and Brews’ Trevor Woods. “Big 235-pound guy — he just started doing it, we’ll see how it goes. He’s also excelling at quarterback, so there will be some decisions that have to be made.”
Trying to get the most out of a player that can be classified as a “weapon” wouldn’t be anything new for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines.
When Harbaugh first got to Michigan, he took over a roster that included safety Jabril Peppers. Peppers was not only one of the Big Ten’s best defensive players, but also one its most impressive kick returners.
Harbaugh didn’t just utilize him in those two roles. He also occasionally had Peppers used as a receiver and as a running back.
There is obviously one big difference with Orji. He’s a quarterback and this usually isn’t something you try with a QB.
You’ll generally see coaches try to keep QBs out of situations where there is a risk of injury.
However, this could actually be the best way to get Orji on the field at this point in his career. He spent his freshman season stuck behind JJ McCarthy at the position and that probably won’t be changing this year or next year.