Family of Will Johnson responds to Alabama transfer rumors

Even before Kalen DeBoer was hired, Alabama had been active in adding defensive backs via the NCAA transfer portal. Domani Jackson committed before Nick Saban retired while Michigan‘s Keon Sabb recently announced he will finish out his college career with Alabama.

This had led to rumors surrounding Michigan star CB Will Johnson potentially being next. Well, you can put those to bed, with the family of Johnson saying he will not be leaving Ann Arbor.

“Alabama… As William, put it to me, ALL CAP,” Deon Johnson, Will’s father said via EJ Holland of On3’s The Wolverine.

Johnson had allegedly tweeted at Jackson and Sabb after the latter committed to Alabama, sending out the classic eyeball emoji with a shrug at the end. You cannot find it on Johnson’s X account anymore so if he did send it out, he’s since deleted.

There is a connection between the three defensive backs. All were members of the 2022 recruiting class and in the case of Johnson and Sabb, they ended up at Michigan. Jackson heavily considered the Wolverines, along with Alabama, before eventually committing to USC.

But through the transfer portal, it’s allowed them to maybe all link up on the same team. Michigan was, once again, considered a finalist for Jackson during the transfer process but Alabama won out. Sabb will play in Tuscaloosa beginning next season.

Johnson will not, based on his father’s message. He will enter the 2024 season as one of the best cornerbacks in college football and a projected high draft pick. In a recent list from CBS Sports, Johnson was named one of the top 20 players set to be available in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Two years of success have come with Michigan and will continue under head coach Sherrone Moore plus defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

Cornerback a position of need for Alabama

It’s easy to see why Alabama is going after experienced cornerbacks. Even if Saban had not retired, the position group was going to be thin moving forward.

Both starting cornerbacks from last season are now gone and set to become first-round picks of the NFL Draft. Terrion Arnold is seeing his stock rise while Kool-Aid McKinstry has been a steady name throughout the process.

Jackson has a chance to work his way into a starting role and if Johnson were the enter the portal, he would have certainly played opposite.