Recent Will Johnson Notes
Michigan football mega preview: Key players, storylines, depth chart for 2023
Michigan’s Mike Sainristil preparing for move outside, just in case
Transfer Josh Wallace attracted to ‘bigger stage,’ CFP chase at Michigan
Oregon Ducks fall camp breakdown: Wide receivers
5 questions for Jim Harbaugh, Michigan at Big Ten Media Days
Will Johnson
HISTORY -- From School Profile
CAREER HIGHS
• Tackles: 8 - at Ohio State (Nov. 26, 2022)
• Solos: 7 - at Ohio State (Nov. 26, 2022)
• Asst: 2, 2x - last vs. Washington (Jan. 8, 2024)
• TFLs: 1, 3x - last vs. Rutgers (Sept. 23, 2023)
• Sacks: none
• Int: 2 - vs. Purdue (Dec. 3, 2022)
• FR: none
• PBUs: 2, 2x - last at Penn State (Nov. 11, 2023)
At Michigan
• All-American (first team, 2023)
• All-Big Ten selection (consensus first team, coaches and media, 2023)
• Defensive MVP, 2023 National Championship Game
• Shared Defensive Freshman of the Year honors (2022)
• Two-time letter winner (2022-23)
• Appeared in 25 games with 16 starts at cornerback
Sophomore (2023)
• Appeared in 12 games with 11 starts at defensive back; made 27 tackles including 1.0 for loss with four interceptions (and one returned for a touchdown) returned 80 total yards among eight pass breakups to earn his second varsity letter
• Named an All-American (first team) by Sports Illustrated; (second team) USA Today, The Athletic
• All-Big Ten selection (consensus first team, coaches and media)
• Defensive MVP, 2023 National Championship Game
• Three times, shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Purdue, at Minnesota, at Penn State
• Preseason All-American (second team, AP)
• Made his season debut playing defensive back against UNLV (Sept. 9)
• Made his first start of the season against Rutgers (Sept. 23) with two solo tackles including one for loss
• On the road at Nebraska (Sept. 30), started at the outside corner spot and delivered three tackles
• Intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown and added a solo tackle at Minnesota (Oct. 7)
• Started on the outside against Indiana (Oct. 14) and was credited with one tackle
• At Michigan State (Oct. 21), led the team with five unassisted stops
• Intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards against Purdue (Nov. 4) along with two tackles
• Broke up two passes and made two tackles at Penn State (Nov. 11)
• Made two solo tackles at Maryland (Nov. 18)
• Intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards against Ohio State (Nov. 25) and also made two tackles
• Made three tackles starting against Alabama in the Rose Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Jan. 1)
• Intercepted a pass on the first play of the second half against Washington in the CFP National Championship Game (Jan. 8) and added four tackles in a start at cornerback
Freshman (2022)
• Appeared in all 14 games as a defensive back and special teams contributor with five starts at cornerback; made 27 tackles with 2.0 for loss and three interceptions among six pass breakups to earn his first varsity letter
• Freshman All-American by Pro Football Focus, 247Sports, The Athletic
• Shared Defensive Freshman of the Year honors
• Named Special Teams Freshman of the Game following his performance against Hawaii
• On four occasions, named Defensive Freshman of the Game for his performance against Michigan State, Penn State, at Indiana, at Ohio State
• Shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance at Rutgers
• Played at corner and nickel in his U-M debut against Colorado State (Sept. 3)
• Made two solo tackles playing in the secondary against Hawaii (Sept. 10)
• Contributed as a cornerback and also played special teams against UConn (Sept. 17)
• Played in the secondary against Maryland (Sept. 24)
• Credited with three solo tackles playing on the outside of the secondary at Iowa (Oct. 1)
• Made one solo tackle playing cornerback at Indiana (Oct. 8)
• Delivered two solo tackles playing cornerback against Penn State (Oct. 15)
• Made one tackle for loss playing in the defensive backfield against Michigan State (Oct. 29)
• Earned his first career start at Rutgers (Nov. 5) and recorded his first career interception, which he returned 29 yards
• Started again and made two solo tackles with a pass breakup against Nebraska (Nov. 12)
• Registered four solo tackles playing corner against Illinois (Nov. 19)
• Started at Ohio State (Nov. 26) and delivered eight tackles a new career-best
• Picked off two passes and made a TFL against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship (Dec. 3)
• Started, broke up a pass, and made two tackles against TCU in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Dec. 31)
Prep
• Attended Grosse Pointe South High School (2022) coached by Tim Brandon; will enroll early at Michigan
• Four-year varsity starter, the first in program history
• Helped the Blue Devils go 6-5 in 2021
• Posted a 4-3 record his junior year in a COVID-shortened 2020 season
• Part of a 7-3 team his sophomore year in 2019 and an 8-2 club as a freshman in 2018
Key Statistics
• As a senior, made 45 tackles (31 solo) with 3.5 for loss, one sack and one interception among 12 total pass breakups
• Totaled 1,302 all-purpose yards receiving, rushing and returning punts; scored one punt-return touchdown and averaged 19.3 yards per return and caught 42 passes for 667 yards with six touchdowns
• Made 21 tackles in seven games as a junior in 2020 totaling eight pass breakups
• Caught 37 passes on offense for 600 yards and eight touchdowns; also scored on a punt return
Honors and Rankings
• Earned a 247Sports Composite ranking of five stars; the No. 20 overall player nationally, the No. 4 CB and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan
• Named a four-star prospect by 247Sports; the No. 37 overall player in the nation, the No. 6 CB and the No. 1 in the state of Michigan
• Rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 2 player in his region, the No. 4 cornerback and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan
• Rivals.com five-star prospect, the No. 26 player in the country, the No. 4 CB in the nation and the No. 1 player in Michigan
• On3.com five-star consensus rating, the No. 22 player in the nation, the No. 3 cornerback and the No. 1 player from Michigan
• On3.com four-star prospect, the No. 42 player in the country, the No. 9 cornerback and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan
• Semifinalist for the Maxwell Club High School Defensive Player of the Year
• Named a 2021 MLive All-State selection
• Top-10, Michigan Player of the Year by the Detroit News
Personal
• William Johnson was born March 29, 2003
• Son of Deon Johnson and Kafi Kumasi
• Father, Deon, was a defensive back at Michigan and was part of three Big Ten Championship-winning teams from 1990-94
• Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, majoring in General Studies
Physical Attributes:
Proj Rd: | -- |
Height: | 6-2 |
Weight: | 194 |
Forty: | 4.48 |
Arm: | -- |
Hand: | -- |
Wingspan: | -- |
Pro Day Results:
Cone: | -- |
Bench: | -- |
Shuttle: | -- |
10: | -- |
20: | -- |
40: | -- |
BJ: | -- |
VJ: | -- |
Combine Results:
Cone: | -- |
Bench: | -- |
Shuttle: | -- |
10: | -- |
20: | -- |
40: | -- |
BJ: | -- |
VJ: | -- |