TRENDING: Transfer QB Suffers Season-Ending Injury

Orji saw his first significant playing time at Michigan last season. He ended up passing for 150 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, while showcasing his legs with 269 yards and one touchdown on the ground. However, with star true freshman Bryce Underwood arriving in Ann Arbor, Orji decided to enter the portal.

He found a new home at UNLV, where he battled with another transfer quarterback, Anthony Colandrea (Virginia) for the starting job. While Colandrea has received a bulk of the playing time for the 3-0 Rebels, Orji has been used as a change-of-pace option. He had completed all three of his pass attempts for 37 yards and rushed for 42 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.

UNLV head coach Dan Mullen discussed the injury during Monday’s press conference.

“Huge loss for the team,” said Mullen. “The devastating part is not just the loss of his talent on the field, but his leadership, his demeanor, the man that he is. It’s heartbreaking for him for all the work he puts in. That’s the biggest heartbreak. But also the team because I know he means so much to everybody on this team.”

Mullen mentioned that Orji will have surgery to repair his hamstring, which he injured during his only carry during the first quarter of Saturday’s victory over UCLA.

“When they saw the hit originally, they thought it could have been a lot worse,” said Mullen. “He came over to the sideline. He’s got to be one of the toughest guys I know — he jogged off the field. Then when they did the MRI they got in there and saw the extent of the injury.”

Orji could apply for a medical redshirt, so his collegiate days are likely not over.