Former walk-on Warren wins Michigan QB battle

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan‘s offseason quarterback competition emerged with a surprise winner as Davis Warren, a former walk-on and cancer survivor, started Saturday’s opener for the defending national champions against Fresno State.

Warren, a senior from Los Angeles, had been competing with junior Alex Orji for the starting job in recent weeks. Seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle also had been in contention until an injury during camp.

Michigan’s first possession Saturday began with Warren at quarterback but ended with Orji finding Donovan Edwards for a 3-yard touchdown pass.

The 6-2, 195-pound Warren appeared in three games last season and had five pass attempts; he played in five games in 2022. Warren entered Saturday’s game with 14 career pass attempts for 89 yards and an interception.

Warren was a decorated recruit until being diagnosed with leukemia in March 2019, when he was a sophomore. Warren went through chemotherapy and returned to play four games during the 2019 season. His senior season in 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan used Orji as a change-up quarterback for running situations in 2023, behind starter J.J. McCarthy, an NFL first-round draft pick in April.