Michigan’s Will Johnson is ready to attack in 2024

As Michigan’s Will Johnson prepares for his third — and almost certainly final — season in Ann Arbor, the nation’s No. 1 cornerback is expected to serve as the linchpin for arguably America’s best defense. The Wolverines return a ton of experienced talent on defense, and Michigan’s coaching staff has done an excellent job of filling any deficiencies through the transfer portal, especially in the secondary.

As for Johnson specifically, it’s not just his skills on the football field that make him an elite player. There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes that really helps him take his game to the next level, as defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan pointed out during his recent appearance on the “In The Trenches” podcast with Jon Jansen.

“I don’t think people realize how much work he puts in,” Morgan said. “All the film study, what he does with his body, the extra work he does – stretching, yoga, Pilates, all the exercises the kid does before practice. It’s unbelievable.”

“So, I go to a pro’s workout and I see these veterans, that’s how he conducts himself here. The coaches before me, the strength training staff before me, did a really good job there. But I also think these young guys are learning a lot from the coaches, but really from their peers. And that’s why Michigan is unique because the players under our guidance are running the program.”

Given his level of preparation and performance on Saturdays, it’s no surprise that the younger defensive backs — including all four new players — view Johnson as a player they want to learn from. But even though he’s considered an elite cornerback who will be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in less than a year, he knows the work isn’t done in Ann Arbor. In fact, Johnson has made it clear that he’s not happy with his performance last season.

“There’s always more,” Johnson said in the spring. “I’m always hungry for more. Last year I had a pretty good year – but I wasn’t where I wanted to be at all. This year I have a lot more to go – and want to be the best version of myself that I want to be.”

“We’re using the time now to get where we want to be, to get in shape, to get our minds together, to get the chemistry between us and to keep the culture where it is. We have a lot of work to do to prepare for the season. But we know what’s ahead of us and we’re ready to attack it.”