• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterAug 31, 2024, 07:31 PM ET

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    • College football reporter.
    • Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
    • Graduate of Northwestern University.

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 30-10 season-opening win 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.

Warren finished 15-of-25 for 118 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Orji was 1-of-2 with the score on the opening drive.

The 6-foot-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 in high school. Warren went through chemotherapy and returned to play four games during the 2019 season. His senior season in 2020 was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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