Michigan (No. 18) is making a change at quarterback ahead of its Big Ten opener, trading junior Alex Orji for Saturday’s game against USC (No. 11), coach Sherrone Moore announced Monday.

Orji will replace senior Davis Warren, a former walk-on, in one of the Wolverines’ biggest matchups this season.

“I’m happy for him,” Moore said of Orji. “I know he’s impatient with his hooves.”

Warren is averaging 148 yards per game and has thrown just two touchdowns with six interceptions in three games this season, including a 31-10 home loss to Texas. Warren’s QBR is 35.3, which ranks 103rd nationally.

Warren had three interceptions and just 122 passing yards in a 28-18 win over Arkansas State last week.

“I wouldn’t call it a problem,” Moore said of the position. “We’re just going to go to work. So we’re going to get better, like we did last week in the running game. We’re going to get better in the passing game and we’re going to continue to push forward.”

Orji, for his part, was used only on a limited basis, throwing the ball six times and carrying it 10 times, albeit averaging 5.8 yards per carry. His potential as a dual threat could give the Wolverines a much-needed boost after they lost JJ McCarthy (19 passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns in 2023) to the NFL.

Orji didn’t have a single pass attempt last season, but he did run 26 times for 155 yards. This year, Orji has the same number of passing touchdowns as Warren and no interceptions.