There aren’t many NFL Draft prospects that possess the number of accolades and accomplishments as Michigan Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson has in his three seasons in Ann Arbor. He walks away from Ann Arbor a national champion, a three-time Big Ten champion, a two-time All-American and a two-time All-Big Ten selection.
The former five-star out of Detroit has been a shut-down cornerback for the Wolverines since his freshman year, starting 22 games and picking up nine interceptions, three of which he ran back for touchdowns.
No matter the opponent, Johnson ran with the best of them and has strong tape against current and future NFL wide receivers.
While injuries have been a concern, Johnson has the ceiling of an All-Pro cornerback in the NFL when he’s healthy.
Quick Facts
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 194 pounds
Arm Length: 30 1/8”
Hand Length: 9 1/8’’
Draft Day Age: 21 years old
Career stats: 32 games, 68 tackles (four for loss), 9 interceptions, 19 passes defended, 3 pick-sixes
Strengths
Strong instincts and football IQ allow him to play big and smooth.
Can run with the route and takes strong angles in pass coverage.
Good body control and change of direction in space.
Possesses pre-snap play recognition and can read the quarterback with ease.
Races downhill to strike pass catchers with force, preventing yards after catch.
Possesses strong hands that leads to turnovers and pass breakups in open space.
Weaknesses
Injuries plagued his 2024 season and forced him to miss the NFL Combine.
Interception greed makes him susceptible to double-moves and under-cutting routes.
Does not have short-term burst speed to catch up with faster receivers that get by him.
Open-field overruns lead to missed arm tackles in space.
Needs to improve in run support when opposing backs get to the edge.
Summary
If Johnson was eligible to leave for the NFL after the 2023 season, he would have been a high pick. He was that good as a sophomore. Unfortunately, he was forced to return to college and endured a toe/leg injury kept Johnson out for half the year.
Looking at Johnson’s resume before the injury, he has been relied upon to be a shutdown corner on the outside, matching up against some of the best receivers in college football. While he does not possess blazing speed, his instincts and pre-snap play recognition allow him to get to the receiver’s spot before the opponent typically does.
Johnson is comfortable playing in man coverage, but he’s at his best when playing with his eyes forward instead of chasing routes downfield. This allows him to jump passes to take the other way, or at the very least, make clean tackles to prevent yards after the catch.
Throughout his career, Johnson has been an asset in the secondary, using his 6-foot-2 frame to trap receivers inside of him and preventing opponents from getting by him.
Teams should look no further than Johnson’s 2023 performances against Ohio State and Washington. He almost single-handedly kept Marvin Harris Jr. in check, allowing just two catches on five targets and making two tackles and an interception before leaving the game with an injury.
INTERCEPTION MICHIGAN ! 〽️
Quelle mauvaise passe de QB Kyle McCord. 5ème interception de la saison pour CB Will Johnson !
Premier big play de ce match Michigan-Ohio State.
@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/yeB6AqjLaW
— TBP College Football (@thebluepennant) November 25, 2023
A month later in the National Championship, Johnson kept Rome Odunze relatively in check while also reeling in an interception in the biggest game of his career.
There’s a lot to like about Johnson’s physical traits and productivity, and he’s the type of player that should continue to get better if he can stay healthy.
There are still big questions about Johnson’s pure speed, especially since he is unable to prove that his offseason due to his injury. Speaking of which, injuries tend to concern NFL teams when it comes to draft prospects, and a player history multiple injuries during their college career is even more worrisome.
Johnson continues to tell teams and the media his tape should speak for itself, but those hurdles he must overcome could impact his draft stock on April 24. Johnson is still expected to be a first-round pick, but where he goes in the round is up for debate.