Comparing Jalen Milroe to Michigan scout team QB Alex Orji

How do you prepare to face off against Jalen Milroe? Not too many quarterbacks have his athleticism, being a threat to take off at any minute. Milroe’s cannon of an arm is one thing but being ready to chase him around on multiple plays can be difficult to simulate during practice.

Luckily for Michigan, they have Alex Orji. Ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinal, the Wolverines have put Orji with the scout team and made him Jalen Milroe. Orji is a highly-thought of athlete on his own and at the very least, is attempting to give the first-team defense an idea of what’s coming in the Rose Bowl.

“I think they’re as similar as you can get in terms of a scout team guy,” Clayton Sayfie of On3’s The Wolverine said during Saturday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “If you have a guy at the top of the depth chart, he’s probably getting reps with the twos or if he’s your starter, with the ones. We all know how unique of an athlete Jalen Milroe is for a quarterback. But Michigan has the No. 50 freak in college football according to Bruce Feldman in a guy that has only played in a handful of snaps in his career, mostly in garbage time.”

We have been able to see Orji being used in Michigan’s last two games, with Sherrone Moore putting together special packages for the quarterback. Orji has recorded four carries for 41 yards against Ohio State and the Big Ten Championship game vs. Iowa.

Maybe he is thrown in there on New Year’s Day as well to catch the Alabama defense off guard. Running a trick play or two has been something we have seen over the past couple of years when the Wolverines are in a big game.

But for now, Orji’s job is to make sure Michigan is prepared to face off against Milroe. While he might not be the perfect stunt double, at least getting used to someone like the Alabama quarterback is going to be helpful. You could rather go into the test with a little studying than completely blind.

“They’re using him as a guy that can simulate Jalen Milroe,” Sayfie said. “Of course, he can’t throw the way Jalen Milroe can but with scout team, you’re just trying to get that look. You’re trying to not be completely shocked once you get in the game.”