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Will Johnson addresses pre-draft process, responds to fan criticisms on availability

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•03/21/25•

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Will Johnson
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the top defensive players in the class, but questions about his health have been a constant narrative heading into the home stretch of the evaluation process.

Johnson, who missed six games this year due to a turf toe injury, played in 32 games with 22 starts over three seasons at Michigan. The former five-star recruit is a two-time All-Big Ten selection (consensus first team in 2023 and second-team by the media in 2024). He earned first-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated as a sophomore in 2023 and was the Defensive MVP of the national championship game, helping lead the Maize and Blue to their 12th title in history and first since 1997.

“Trying to get back to 100%,” Johnson told the media on Friday at Schembechler Hall. “But something pretty minor, just a little hammy. So I’m just dealing with that… I have a workout [at Michigan] on April 14th, so that’s what I’m planning on [for fieldwork and drills].”

Johnson, Pro Football Focus’ No. 13 overall prospect, tweaked his hamstring shortly after returning from the toe injury that caused him to miss the back half of the 2024 season at Michigan. He did not do any workouts at Friday’s pro day event.

The snowball of injuries has been frustrating for the young corner.

 ”It was kind of just… I got back from my toe in early January,” Johnson said. “When you’re doing the training we’re doing like this, it’s pretty intense. So I’m just trying to run as fast as I can and the hammy’s not ready for that yet.

 ”It’s been frustrating. I’ve missed some games this season because of the injury, because of the toe, and then this hammy, but I mean, that’s just what comes with it. I know what I can do on the field. I got a lot of film out there. I know I’ll go to the team that’s supposed to pick me. So I’m not too worried about it.”

One of the knocks on the Michigan star heading into the draft is some of the durability question marks from the injuries he dealt with this past year. He says he does what he can to take care of his body and that sometimes things happen.

“I do a lot of stuff to take care of my body,” Johnson said. “You can’t control what happens as long as you’re taking care of what you can and what you can control. So I’m just controlling what I can control and they know what it is. So that’s about it.”

Johnson still had a decorated career in Ann Arbor, winning two Big Ten Championships and a national title during his time with the Michigan program. The Detroit native reflected on a productive three years with the Maize and Blue.

 ”I feel like I had a pretty good career here. Accomplished a lot of my goals,” Johnson said. “Won the national championship, beat Ohio State, won Big Ten championships. So accomplished a lot of goals. This season was tough. Another goal was to do all those things this year too. And I wasn’t able to be out there with the team. I did everything I could to be with the team and still help out the team any way I could.

“It was tough to not affect the game in a way I know I could and help the team get to that next level for sure.”

Johnson took some shots from Michigan fans on social media about his availability down the stretch when the schedule cranked up. He does not think about those narratives, and said fans have expectations just as he does.

 ”No reaction to that,” Johnson said. “Everyone in this building… coaches, players, they all know what I was dealing with. Fans are gonna be fans and they want to see me play. I want to play to just as much as they want me to play. I have goals just like they just like they have for me.

“You see it, but I don’t really pay too much mind to it.”

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