Tag: Will Johnson

Will Johnson may ‘take on a bigger task’ in the upcoming weeks

A stud in the making! #GoBlue

The crown jewel of the 2022 recruiting class was five-star Will Johnson. According to the 247Sports composite, the Grosse Pointe (Michigan) Grosse Pointe South High School prospect was the 15th-ranked recruit in the country and the No. 1 player from Michigan last year.

Johnson picked the Wolverines over Alabama and USC, among plenty of other suitors. The maize and blue lost Vincent Gray, Dax Hill, and Brad Hawkins as starters from the College Football Playoff roster last season.

When Johnson committed to Michigan, there was plenty of hype surrounding him and a lot of people assumed he would cement himself as a starter before Week 1. But Mike Sainristil was shifted from offense to defense, and he has excelled. The Wolverines returned Gemon Green and DJ Turner, so Will Johnson has played, but he is biding his time to get that starting spot.

On Wednesday, co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale met with the media, and he talked about how healthy the true freshman is. The Wolverines plan on giving Johnson more reps during practice, which will translate into more game reps.

“Well, really, he’s healthy,” said Clinkscale. “And so, just keep stacking, keep building. I know coach talks about it all the time. So for him, it was building more reps at practice, with him being 100% healthy right now. And then he’ll continue to get more reps during the game, with those reps at practice adding it in the game, he gets more experienced, we’re able to, fix all the freshman, rookie mistakes that he would have.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson is coming off his second-best game of the season in coverage. PFF gave the five-star defensive back a 72.4 grade against the Spartans. The only game that was higher was Week 2 vs. Hawaii where Johnson had a grade of 77.5 in coverage. Clinkscale noted  Johnson plays like a veteran and that Michigan will continue to give him more opportunities in games.

“But he doesn’t play like that, he plays like a vet,” said Clinkscale. “So we’re just gonna continue to give him more of those and give him the opportunity to go out there and impact the game like he’s been showing us. But I’ve been very pleased with where he’s at, and I want to continue to push him.”

Gemon Green and Ja’Den McBurrows were the two Michigan players assaulted by Michigan State players in the tunnel after the game last Saturday. Clinkscale was asked about their health and if they would play against Rutgers. He said it’s a day-by-day situation.

“As far as those guys playing everything like that, I know coach kind of addressed that,” Clinkscale said. “We just got to keep seeing day by day where they’ve progressed to.”

If Green can’t go against Rutgers, we would assume Johnson could get his first start. Going into Week 10, Johnson has had the 13th-most snaps on the Michigan defense (179). Clinkscale believes Johnson is ready to take on a bigger responsibility and task.

“And so, we’ve done a really good job with these young guys and just continue to feed them that medicine,” said Clinkscale. “A little bit at a time, little bit at a time until they’re ready. And I feel like he’s where he needs to be. He’s ready, he’s ready to take on a bigger task. And, I think that you guys will get a chance to see him each week and improve, increase the reps and improve his play.”

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Steve Clinkscale updates progress of Michigan football freshman DBs in fall camp

People are sleeping on some of these new corners and safeties! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Of all the position groups where Michigan football is bringing in first-year players as part of the 2022 recruiting class, none is more impressive from top-to-bottom than in the secondary.

The Wolverines brought in six defensive backs — five-star Will Johnson, four-stars Zeke Berry, Keon Sabb, and Kody Jones, as well as three-stars Myles Pollard and Damani Dent. While some will play corner and others will play safety, it’s a versatile group that can transcend a traditional role in one or the other.

Johnson is contending for the starting cornerback job opposite DJ Turner, but the group as a whole is performing well in fall camp. However, the bigger question isn’t about Johnson, Sabb, Jones, or Pollard — as the foursome has been on campus since January and participated in spring ball. Of equal importance is how Berry and Dent are acclimating.

In the eyes of co-defensive coordinator and defensive pass game coordinator Steve Clinkscale, so far so good, across the board.

“I think the young men that were here in the spring have a slight advantage as far as understanding the system,” Clinkscale said. “The two other gentlemen who got here in the summer are under academic — they’re in class. So, adding that to their plate with football, still in school right now, it’s a little challenging for them. They’re performing — Zeke (Berry) is especially performing to a level where you can see his instincts. You can see why we recruited him and what he’s gonna be able to do.

“But as far as Will, Myles, and Kody, you definitely see they’re a little further ahead than the freshmen were last year. We were able to get — except for Rod Moore, he was different. Those guys will develop right to where we need them to. We’re going to ask all of them to help us at some point. The capacity is really going to be up to them, what they know, what they understand, how they can execute.”

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Considering that Clinkscale mentioned every other name, we asked him specifically about Sabb, especially considering that he was once rated a five-star — he finished at No. 84 overall in the 247Sports Composite, but he was ranked as high as No. 5 overall in his initial ranking in 2019. He was ranked No. 22 just 13 months ago — which was around the time of his visit to Ann Arbor — before getting passed by a number of other high-profile recruits.

Clinkscale says that he’s liked what he’s seen ranging from spring ball into fall camp, but given that he’s locked into the position of safety, and he’s learning both the free and strong roles, it’s been a little more challenging for him than most.

“Keon’s done a great job. He’s probably got the hardest job of the bunch, of those four, because he has to know both safeties,” Clinkscale said. “He knows what the safeties are doing, now it’s just taking that step forward on the field and applying it. And being able to let loose and make some plays.

“Yesterday, he had a really good practice and he keeps getting better every week and every day. He’s really evolving and he’s really got the biggest load. Playing corner, the biggest responsibility is not getting beat deep. Nickel, you’ve gotta understand the nuances. But safety, he’s gotta know what everybody’s doing, make all the checks. And for him being a freshman, I think he’s doing a great job.”

We’ll get to see what, likely, all of the above look like early in the season, starting with Michigan football’s first game on Sept. 3 against Colorado State.

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Power ranking Michigan football freshmen by potential 2022 contribution

Who will be #Michigan’s first-year instant impact players? #GoBlue

Every year, in likely every college football team, a first-year player comes in and makes an instant impact.

At Michigan, we’ve seen several. In 2021, Andrel Anthony and Junior Colson; in 2020, Blake Corum and Roman Wilson; in 2019, Zach Charbonnet and Dax Hill; Chris Evans and Devin Bush in 2016. The list can go on indefinitely. But who will be those players in 2022?

Though the class was 23 deep (when you include Andrew Gentry), there are numerous candidates to be instant impact players. Even though we have a good idea of some players already who are likely to find themselves in the two-deep, there are others — particularly in positions of need — that could make a splash in year one.

Here are our top 10 choices, ranked from last to first, of freshmen who could find themselves on the field early and often in 2022.

Two Michigan freshman that matter during the 2022 football season according to 247Sports

These two should be beasts for Michigan!

After winning the Big Ten and making it to its first-ever College Football Playoffs, Michigan had some momentum on the recruiting trail for the 2022 football season. The Wolverines picked up some key late recruiting wins and finished with the ninth-ranked recruiting class this past season.

The maize and blue got commitments from defensive end Derrick Moore, safety Keon Sabb, and two receivers, Darrius Clemons and Amorian Walker at the end of the cycle. But those three didn’t crack the 247Sports article talking about which 100 true freshmen will matter in 2022. 

The first true freshmen that will matter is the top-ranked recruit that Michigan brought in, defensive back Will Johnson. Johnson was the 14th ranked player according to the composite rankings, a five-star cornerback from Grosse Pointe South, Michigan.

Will Johnson, DB, Michigan
247Sports Composite: No. 14

Johnson was Michigan’s highest-rated signee and played like it during the spring. There are reps for him to earn, too. Michigan has an open cornerback role that will be a battle between Johnson, redshirt freshman Ja’Den McBurrows and converted wide receiver Mike Sainristil. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh expects Johnson to be a factor in that competition: “He’s gonna play and be battling for a starting position,” Harbaugh said.

The second Wolverine that Chris Hummer from 247Sports mentioned was three-star defensive lineman Mason Graham. Graham is from Servite (Anaheim, California) and he was the 258th-ranked player according to the composite rankings.

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
247Sports Composite: No. 258

Graham had an excellent spring for the Wolverines. The 6-foot-4, 295-pound California native drew praise from Jim Harbaugh as someone who could play early. Said Harbaugh of Graham: “He was playing and playing at a pretty darn high level right off the bat.” Even with the addition of UCF transfer Cam Goode, the Wolverines are thin inside at defensive tackle.

With the attrition that Michigan lost on the defensive side of the ball this past season, it’s quite possible that both of these players will see significant playing time along with Derrick Moore, and some other freshmen. The Wolverines will be looking to replace starters: Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Chris Hinton,  Josh Ross, Vincent Gray, and Brad Hawkins.

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Two Michigan football freshmen impressing in spring ball

Will these guys make an instant impact in year one? #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football will have something of a changing of the guard in the secondary this year, with Brad Hawkins, Daxton Hill, and Vincent Gray all departing for the NFL. But it won’t be without talent.

At corner, Gemon Green and DJ Turner return, which bodes well for the cornerbacks, but safety will essentially see two new faces. Presumably, RJ Moten and (currently injured) Rod Moore will be the likely starters, but who else could be instant impact players, either at safety or out on the edge?

After his pro day, departing safety Brad Hawkins shared who he thinks could make an impact sooner than later, speaking not of some of the stalwarts who have been in the secondary as much as two first-year players who are coming on strong this spring.

“I’d say Keon Sabb, freshman — Will Johnson,” Hawkins said. “I haven’t had the opportunity to really see, but from what I know and what I see around, I think for sure (those guys).”

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When the duo signed on early signing day, head coach Jim Harbaugh shared his thoughts on what they bring to the table, starting with Will Johnson.

“Will Johnson, son of Deon Johnson who played here at the University of Michigan and was a heckuva good football player,” Harbaugh said. “Been recruiting Will since it seems he was a freshman in high school. I think we probably offered him as a freshman, at least as a sophomore, but right down the road. He’s been fantastic, been one of our best recruiters. Michigan legacy. Everything you want in a corner in terms of length and movement skills, traits. Fantastic. And I’ll also say that Will’s a signature guy in the class. He’s a 99.00 five-star, and he’s an even better guy. I can’t tell you how much he’s meant to us and this recruiting class. Everybody in the class wants to room with Will. Just a great guy. Will Johnson’s really been the anchor to this entire class.”

As far as Sabb is concerned, all Harbaugh said was ‘he’s a tremendous player.’ The former five-star who ended up finishing as a four-star was a longtime Clemson commit before flipping to the Wolverines.

Fans will get their first opportunity to see both on April 2, when Michigan hosts the annual spring game at The Big House.

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Five instant impact freshmen for Michigan football in 2022

Will we see these guys make an impact in year one? #GoBlue

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Every year, pretty much every football team in college relies on first-year players to come in and make big plays, and Michigan football is no exception.

In 2021, the Wolverines played Donovan Edwards, Andrel Anthony, and Rod Moore with regularity. We’ve seen years where there have been double-digit redshirts burned.

So who could be those instant impact players in 2022?

The Wolverines have mostly everyone returning on the offensive side of the ball but a lot of needs on defense. Still, some offensive players will be good to keep off the field, and that could be the case for defensive players, needs or not.

That said, here are five new Wolverines who certainly could help the team in year one.

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National Signing Day: Michigan football signs Will Johnson

He’s the pinnacle of the 2022 class!

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Ratings

Stars Overall Position State
247Sports 4 37 6 1
Rivals 5 26 4 1
ESPN 4 19 4 1
On3 4 42 9 1
247Sports Composite 5 20 4 1
On3 Consensus 5 23 3 1

Vitals

Hometown Grosse Pointe (Mich.) South
Projected Position Cornerback
Height 6-foot-3
Weight 190-pounds

Recruitment

While it seemed to be a no-brained that a Michigan legacy would end up in Ann Arbor, it wasn’t quite so simple.

For a long while, Ohio State led for the five-star, and there were several moments when it appeared that Johnson was set to commit to the Buckeyes. However, Johnson and best friend Domani Jackson — the Mater Dei five-star — intended to be a package deal, which got USC involved. Once the Trojans became a factor, it gave Michigan an opening, yet again. Though Jackson pledged to USC, Johnson committed to the hometown school just over a month later, making it official on Feb. 28, 2021. From there, he became a voracious recruiter for the Wolverines.

Ultimately, while Mike Zordich had done a good job of recruiting Johnson, once the Wolverines brought in Maurice Linguist, it was a game-changer. Even when Linguist left after the spring, considering Johnson was solid at that point, the addition of Steve Clinkscale helped the Wolverines reaffirm and retain him in the class.

Readiness Level

Almost certainly will see the field in year one, but will likely be behind Vincent Gray and DJ Turner (assuming they return).

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Film

Scouting

On3

Possesses tremendous stature at the cornerback position with a high-end frame. Among the bigger cornerback prospects in a strong group at the position nationally. A legitimate top 100 level prospect at defensive back or wide receiver. A smooth mover in his backpedal and when changing directions. Stays attached in coverage. Game moves slow for Johnson. Plays more at safety than other spots on defense, but projects as a boundary corner. Doubles as a playmaking receiver with make-you-miss ability after the catch. Naturally plucks the football at its highest point. Shows burst and acceleration after the catch, initially running away from defenders. Does not have verified speed or athletic testing numbers. With that said, his play speed doesn’t appear to be a big concern. Putting up big numbers on both sides of the ball as a senior. Overall athleticism carries over to the basketball court where he also excels.

247Sports

Great size and still growing. Has length, but is also filled in and looks like a prototypical outside cornerback prospect. Good athlete who excels on the basketball court and has shown top notch ball skills on the football field. Has the size and ball tracking ability to defend bigger outside receivers. Has good technique. Smooth in his backpedal and transition. Smart as far as zone coverage. Has yet to time at an event or in track, so verified speed is one question mark right now. It is possible he will outgrow cornerback if he keeps getting taller and bigger, but at present, projects as a blue-chip boundary cornerback who will be an impact college player and have a good chance to be a higher draft choice.

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USA TODAY High School Sports recruiting rankings Power 5 spotlight: Big Ten

See the top 10 high school football recruits committed to Big Ten schools.

As recruiting for the high school football class of 2022 picks up, more and more schools are seeing who may be its superstars of the future.

Only two five-star players are committed to Big Ten schools as of Nov. 3, but there are 52 four-star recruits, the second-most of any conference.

Here’s a dive into the top-10 ranked players, according to the USA TODAY High School Sports Composite Player Rankings, The list averages the grades from the three biggest recruiting services: 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals. 

For conferences that do not have 10 players in the top-100, the remainder of the list came from the 247Sports Composite Ranking. That does not apply to the Big Ten, which has 13 top-100 players.

(Note: The recruit’s measurements and position are courtesy of 247Sports.)

Reactions to Will Johnson’s commitment to Michigan

Twitter exploded with reactions to the news that Michigan football received a commitment from legacy 5-star Will Johnson.

Sunday afternoon brought a whirlwind of news for the Michigan football program. First, former Texas Tech starting quarterback Alan Bowman announced he was transferring to the maize and blue and moments later, five-star legacy cornerback Will Johnson, the 2022 Grosse Pointe (MI) South product, pledged to become a Wolverine, following in his father’s footsteps.

While the former was big news in its own right, the latter was even more significant, especially considering that it’s at a position of need and that he didn’t go to either USC or the rival Ohio State Buckeyes. So, of course, the Twitterverse had a strong reaction to Johnson going blue.

Here are some of the highlights:

Five-star 2022 CB Will Johnson commits to Michigan

Five-star cornerback Will Johnson committed to Michigan on Sunday afternoon.

Five-star Grosse Pointe South (Mich.) cornerback Will Johnson’s father, Deon, was a star defensive back at Michigan in the 1990s.

Now, it’s his turn to take his talents to Ann Arbor and create his own legacy.

Johnson wrapped up his recruitment Sunday afternoon, committing to Michigan over the likes of Alabama, LSU and Michigan State. Johnson is now the highest-ranked recruit in the Wolverines’ 2022 recruiting class, which currently ranks 17th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten according to the 247Sports Composite.

Johnson is the No. 11 overall recruit, No. 5 cornerback and the top prospect in Michigan in the class of 2022. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, he has been compared to New England Patriots All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

“Great size and still growing. Has length, but is also filled in and looks like a prototypical outside cornerback prospect,” 247Sports’ Allen Trieu said in his scouting report of Johnson. Good athlete who excels on the basketball court and has shown top-notch ball skills on the football field. Has the size and ball tracking ability to defend bigger outside receivers. Has good technique. Smooth in his backpedal and transition. Smart as far as zone coverage.

“Has yet to time at an event or in track, so verified speed is one question mark right now. It is possible he will outgrow cornerback if he keeps getting taller and bigger, but at present, projects as a blue-chip boundary cornerback who will be an impact college player and have a good chance to be a higher draft choice.”

RELATED: 22 in ’22: The top defensive backs in the class of 2022