Michigan's former quarterback will share playing time at UNLV's football quarterback position
UNLV Football to Start Season with Dual Quarterback System
The UNLV football team has announced an unexpected move for their matchup against Idaho State this weekend: they will be starting both Alex Orji and Anthony Colandrea as their quarterbacks.
Alex Orji, a transfer from Michigan, was initially expected to win the starting job for the Wolverines last offseason. However, Davis Warren started the first few games instead, leaving Orji on the sidelines. Orji's passing skills were a concern at Michigan, and he was benched a couple of games later due to his passing struggles.
Orji, who is described as very big and athletic, may make up for his passing deficiencies with his running abilities. He is expected to provide a strong ground game for the Rebels.
Anthony Colandrea, a transfer from Virginia, showed promise last season but had too many turnovers. He threw 13 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions, indicating a need for improvement in that area. Colandrea needs to be smarter with the ball this season to make the most of his opportunities.
The use of two quarterbacks is a risky move, but it makes sense given the skillsets of Orji and Colandrea. Dan Mullen, the new head coach of the UNLV football team, has stated that he wants to keep everyone on their toes and possibly start both quarterbacks to annoy opponents.
Mullen has also stated that he does not know what the first play of the game will be, so he does not know who will be in there for the first play. He wants to see how the players perform in practice and how they respond in a game before making a decision on the starting quarterback.
Idaho State is expected to be a good warmup game for Orji and Colandrea, allowing them to get a feel for the game and work out any kinks before facing more challenging opponents.
The last quarterback who played at the University of Michigan before Alex Orji was J.J. McCarthy. It remains to be seen who will emerge as the clear leader for the Rebels' quarterback position, but one thing is certain: the dual quarterback system is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
