Here's a roundup of a couple former Michigan players. NOTE: I will not regularly post updates about offensive linemen since stats are minimal and just posting PFF grades is kind of boring, but I did this week just to show who's playing where and what their opening day role was.
FORMER PLAYERS
OG Amir Herring (Kansas): Herring started at left guard in a 31-7 win over Fresno State. He's listed as a 6'3", 305 lb. redshirt sophomore.
QB Alex Orji (UNLV): Orji had an up-and-down performance in a 38-31 win over Idaho State. Listed as a co-starter with Virginia transfer Anthony Colandrea, Orji completed 3/3 passes for 37 yards. However, he also fumbled as he was going into the end zone on UNLV's opening drive, turning the ball over to Idaho State for a touchback. However however, he also scored the game-winning touchdown on an 11-yard run to make it 37-31 (38-31 after the extra point), with Colandrea playing most of the game following the fumble. Colandrea went 15/21 for 193 yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions, and he ran 13 times for 93 yards.
Alex Orji fumbles right at the goal line on UNLV’s opening drive and Idaho State recovers in the end zone 😳 pic.twitter.com/1jwrfjjs3R
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) August 23, 2025
Nice hurdle by Alex Orji
— JD 〽️ (@MGoJDBlue) August 24, 2025
pic.twitter.com/jMLyqUQByb
This is one of my favorite features of this website -- well, favorite among many -- and I really appreciate you doing this. HOW you do this is beyond me, though ... it has to be a fair bit of work.
ReplyDeleteThis season I will be interested to see how Rodriguez does at West Virginia. To be quite honest, I am surprised he was hired there. I spend summers in West Virginia, and when he departed in 2008, he left with a very tarnished reputation and legacy, and it wasn't just over on-field things, but off-field as well. That said, I guess time heals (most) wounds, and enough of the right people wanted him back, so he's back. Now the question is, can he re-create the lightning in the bottle he had before? I'm doubtful, but we'll see.
I am continually fascinated with this process of players "finding their level" by transferring away from Michigan (a high-level program) to lower-level programs where the competition is more suited to their abilities. It's like the average guy in high school who aspires to the head cheerleader ... he tries, but does not find success, and yet later finds a girl better suited to him, and both are happy.
I think I'll write a Hallmark movie screenplay for this. :-)
Anyway, thanks for these features!
I'm glad this is appreciated. It's fun for me to do, too. At least when guys have interesting highlights or big plays or whatever. When it's a week where, like, Alex Van Sumeren has 1 tackle and George Johnson had 1 catch for 9 yards and that's the best anyone did, it's a pretty grueling task.
DeleteHonestly, I'm not too surprised that Rich Rodriguez got hired again or has been able to find more jobs. He's a good football coach. Not great, but good. He's proven that repeatedly. But I would be very interested to be a fly on the wall and figure out how guys like Rich Rod and Bobby Petrino and other guys get by in their person lives after they've been caught having affairs, being sued for misconduct, etc.
Not that I want to study them so I can repeat it, but I just feel like that's such an embarrassing and personal thing to go through...how do you go into a recruit's home or stand up in front of 125 college kids and tell them you're going to teach them the difference between right and wrong? The same goes for Urban Meyer or any of these guys who get caught messing around.
My guess is they have the ability to "compartmentalize" that area of their life from other areas of their life. They can stand up in front of 125 college kids, and they don't give a thought to those other things. Some people have that ability. I don't, and I'm thankful I don't, because I find that people who can do that easily use it as an excuse to be a morally questionable person in their "private" areas of their lives. It's a complete fantasy to think others don't see it and aren't affected by it, but those type of people tend to be rather narcissistic.
DeleteWest Virginia is a school with a pretty good fan base, since the state has little else within its borders. It wants very much to be considered one of the upper-tier football programs, even though it hasn't been in almost 20 years, and most likely won't ever be again. My guess is they hired Rodriguez back because their options for coaches were thin, and they haven't yet reconciled their minds to the fact they're a middle-tier football school.
Yep well there's always the excuse of "I've made some mistakes". On one had, yeah, everyone does that and can at some level relate and forgive if you are likable otherwise. On the other hand, you're a grown-ass man in a leadership role. Do your job!
DeleteAlong the lines of what Anon says - for such a high profile position, there is probably some degree of familiarity with getting a lot of public criticism and you get hardened to it. Where many would feel shame and fear to ask for (or assert) forgiveness in front of a large group -- it's probably not that hard relative to facing the media after getting blown out by your rival or whatever.
I can understand mid-level athletic departments & universities putting up with it from urban meyer, because dude is a legend. But even then, top programs have good options and should stay away
DeleteThe rest? FCS, USFL and other minor leagues, at best
Top programs have more at stake and more pressure to win (financially) and fewer options for elite coaches who can win at that level, so they are more likely to hire a Meyer or Petrino or B. Kelly. But it is harder to sweep things under the rug.
DeleteKelly is NOT on the same level as Urban National Champion Meyer
Delete#boring
#outsmarted
#lAnKt0m0ny
Kelly is coaching multiple elite programs and possess questionable character.
Delete#cOmPaRIsOn
my exception was for a legendary coach like urban meyer, lAnkt0bY. Keep up
DeleteYep great to see this feature back.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know Herring was starting at Kansas. Would be interesting to know if he'd start over Norton or not. The 2023 OL recruiting class (from High School) is headlined by Link but Norton (same class) maybe the uh - class of the class.
Rough day for UNLV failing to separate from Idaho State due to the defense. Colandrea proved you don't have to look like a RB to run effectively. Mullen having 2 QBs let's him let loose and use them both as runners. Orji looked about how you'd expect - didn't seem to find open space any better than he did at Michigan, but he's still an effective runner.
Good on Herring for earning a start! I'm a bit bothered that Efobi couldn't beat the CalPoly kid, so right away I'm wishing Herri g were an option here
ReplyDeleteAs for The Gimmick, the stat line looks fine:
3 of 3 (1oo% completion), 12.3YPA, no turnovers. PFF 61.4
6 carries at 5.7YPA and a TD. PFF 68
For a backup, that looks pretty dang good. But why is PFF "just average?"
Well, this is why we watch the game ...
First play from scrimmage had both QBs on the field, with Orji behind Center and pitching to Colandrea (a gimmick)
His first pass attempt was 5yd Curl, thrown at the knees
The second pass was a Quick slant that had good YAC
The third was a well-blocked Bubble, that also picked up some YAC
Orji then had a >1oyd run to the EZ, but FUMBLED
He was then benched for next several series
Orji came back w/in 8min left in the Half, and the mighty IdSt D is loaded the box
On that second play he threw deep, and overshot by more than +7yds. A penalty negated the play
Orji was then benched until the 4Q
After Colandrea took a hit), UNLV needed 4, Orji ran into the line for 2 (gimmick) ... UNLV then needed 2, but orji ran into the line for 1yd (gimmick)
Trusted to pass, Orji was smart to just take the run after the first look was covered (TD)
Colandrea went right back in the final two drives. He isn't good at passing, but is trusted with downfield opportunities & can run a little bit
*common in all 5 of Orji's pass plays: ONE look & throw (or take off), no progressions. Easy, 5yd pitch & catch
Year4 in college football and his coach still doesn't trust him as a passer
That's quite an essay for a former Michigan QB who should change positions. Interesting.
DeleteSo the former Michigan QB looks pretty good as both a passer and a runner and PFF says he looks like an average QB. He also again demonstrated sound decision making when trusted to pass, not forcing passes that weren't there and instead running it. Not too interesting. Expected.
The UNLV run game did well overall supported by a heavy contribution from QBs running the ball (both one that LOOK more like traditional QB and one that LOOK more like traditional RB). The QB run elevating the RB run game reminds me of Michigan against USC and Minnesota last year. Not too interesting. Expected.
Michigan ran "gimmick" plays with every other QB starter they've had over the last X years. UNLV ran their OTHER QB more than they ran the former Wolverine QB. Colandrea running isn't listed as a gimmick though. Maybe it's about looks. Interesting.
Speaking of appearances it looks like Orji, Denegal, and Davis have all ascended in 2025 after getting better coaching than what they got in 2024 at Michigan. Interesting.
Expect the same for returning WRs at Michigan in '25 as well as the new faces. Not Interesting. Expected.
Hahahaha, an essay with ZERO hints of actually having watched the game. NO, orji did not 'look good." He looked like an inept gimmick, who the coach benched and PFF couldn't rate past Average despite an eyebrow raising stat line
Delete*multiple namechanges typically precede meltdowns ... lAnKotoMy must be trying to have his Ls deleted by Thunder again
#anothernamechange
#rentfree&boring
#exposed&outsmarted
" that looks pretty dang good. But why is PFF "just average?""
Delete"NO, orji did not 'look good.""
LOL
#NEYBY
3 of 3 DOES look good, lAnKt0bY ... until you see all three passes were within 3yds of the LoS, still inaccurate and only in the first drive
Delete34yds rushing DOES look good, lAnKt0bY ... until you see the Fumble and two failed 1st Down attemps
He was a gimmick for Harbaugh. He was a gimmick for Moore. Against mighty FCS Idaho, he was a gimmick for Mullings (and still got benched)
*Denegal is better. I said what I said
#victorylap
#iwasright
#jeDub
*obsessed is arguing over a game you did NOT watch, with someone you claim bores you ... while changing usernames
#eVeRyAccUsAtIoNiSac0nFeSsIoN
#outsmarted
#lAnKt0bY
OBSESSED IS WORRYING ABOUT USERNAMES AND MY NEWS YEARS RESOLUTION #PAGE2 #WHENEVERIWANT #JUST LIKE I SAID
DeleteMOORE STARTED ORJI THREE TIMES AND USED HIM ALL YEAR JUST LIKE HARBS ON THE NATIONAL CHAMPS. ORJI HAD LONGER PLAY THAN WARREN ALL DAY VS OSU AND 2 FEWER INTS. ORJI "BEAT OSU" MORE THAN WARREN. AND ALL YEAR THE RUNGAME WAS BETTER WITH ORJI (NO PASS THREAT) THAN WARREN (ALSO NO PASS THREAT LOLOLOL). YOU KNOW BUT #NEYBY
#TRUTH HURTS
#FACTOR WHATEVER
HOW MUCH I WATCHED OR DIDNT WATCH IS ONLY FOR YOU TO OBSESS ABOUT, STAN.
#HIU
clowning you is not obsessing, but owning lAnKt0bY
Delete#jeDub
#meltdowncoming
#outsmarted