There is no ceiling for Michigan’s best player.
As we approach the 2024 college football season, many are asking the question: Who is the best player in the country? For the reigning national champions, the Michigan Wolverines , it’s very likely junior cornerback Will Johnson. Many will also contend that he’s also the answer to that first question.
The former five-star prospect is probably entering his final season in Ann Arbor, eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft. But Johnson will first have the opportunity to etch his name into the history books, chasing Charles Woodson as the best defensive back to ever do it for the maize and blue.
The story so far
It was clear very early on that Will Johnson was different. The Grosse Point South product was the first four-year starter in the program’s history, playing roles on all three sides of the ball. By the time his high school career ended, Johnson was one of the most coveted players in the country. Standing at 6-foot-3, the Michigan-bound corner was a problem for opposing receivers, using his large frame and receiver-like ball skill to disrupt opposing passing games. He was a 247Sports Composite five-star prospect and the best player in the state of Michigan.
It became apparent when Johnson came to Ann Arbor in 2022 that he would immediately play a role on the defense. He started as a backup to Gemon Green opposite of DJ Turner, two experienced and talented corners in Jesse Minter’s defense. By the end of the season, however, Johnson was maybe the best of the three and even was tasked with covering Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Wolverines’ win in Columbus, the first since 2000. He came up big the next week as well, snagging two picks against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game. He was given the nod as a freshman All-American from PFF, 247Sports, and The Athletic.
Heading into the 2023 season, Johnson was the clear-cut CB1 for the Wolverines, entering his second year under the tutelage of Minter. The sophomore finished with four interceptions, including a pick-six against Minnesota, an early second-half interception in the National Championship Game, and cutting off a pass to Harrison in the Ohio State game. Johnson stood out in important moments of the championship run, earning heaps of praise from the national media and even winning the Defensive MVP of the National Championship Game.
Outlook for 2024
This is the most highly anticipated season for a defensive back since Charles Woodson in 1997. The greatest Wolverine of all time had seven interceptions that year, along with four touchdowns on offense/kick returning. To this day, Woodson remains the only defensive player to ever hoist the Heisman Trophy.
It’s a different era in many ways, so the path to winning the Heisman is much steeper for Johnson. Yet, it still does not feel completely out of grasp. Other recent defensive players who have finished near the top of the Heisman voting have also come from Michigan: Aidan Hutchinson and Jabrill Peppers. Similar to Johnson, those two also had plenty of preseason hype leading up to incredibly impactful seasons for the Michigan defense.
In May, Johnson said at his youth camp that it was possible that he’d see some offense for the Wolverines this fall. “There’s a little buzz around the building, so we’ll see how it goes,” Johnson said to On3. “It’s always a possibility, for sure.”
“Coach (Kirk) Campbell always says something to me about it. Coach (Sherrone) Moore, he’s a little less fond of it, just because he wants to make sure I’m still out there on defense,” Johnson said. “All the offensive guys love it, and they want me to. They know what I can do, so hopefully I’m able to do it a little bit.”
Just a little bit could be all it takes for the national excitement to reach the next level. There will surely be opportunities for Johnson too, with games against pass-happy teams like Washington, USC, Oregon, and Ohio State on the schedule. If he can take his game to the next level, and Michigan is among the top teams in the country yet again because of it, we could be looking at one of the greatest to ever do it in a winged helmet.