Michigan CB Will Johnson discusses potentially playing offense, goals for 2024 season: 'I'm hungry for more'
DETROIT — Michigan Wolverines football junior cornerback Will Johnson was named first-team All-American by Sporting News and a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection, registering 27 tackles and 4 interceptions while helping his team go undefeated and win the national championship. He’s a projected first-round NFL Draft pick for next spring, yet the former five-star recruit isn’t satisfied.
“There’s always more,” Johnson explained while in Detroit hosting his second annual youth camp. “I’m always hungry for more. Last year, I would say I had a pretty good year, but I wasn’t where I wanted to be, at all. So I got a lot more to shoot for this year and just be the best version of me I can be.”
Johnson didn’t list any specific goals for himself as a player, outside of increasing his role as a leader and realizing his potential. On the team side, he and Michigan have their sights set high again. Johnson has only lost one game in his two seasons in college and is intent on keeping the good times rolling.
“A lot of great team goals we have — obviously to win a national championship, Big Ten championship, beat all of our rivals,” Johnson said. “And just be the best leader I can and be the best version of me that I can be.”
Johnson and Co. aren’t resting on their laurels, though it would be easy to after the success they enjoyed last season, winning Michigan’s 12th-ever national title and first in 26 years. The 6-foot–2, 202-pounder insists the Maize and Blue still have a chip on their shoulder.
“I mean, there are also a lot of people saying we won’t be good this year, so … we got a nice schedule this year, we got a great group of guys this year, we got some great coaches,” Johnson explained. So I really just look at it as the same mentality we had before, just, hard work is undefeated. No matter how hard we work, that’s going to show on the field.
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“I think it’s just the culture we built, just establishing that. That hard work mentality, that none of the outside circumstances really matter. Just willing to work, willing to be better, willing to be coachable. Just lead by example, rub that off on other guys and put my head down and work — and everything else will work itself out after that.”
Could Will Johnson play wide receiver?
Johnson has played defense and a bit of special teams during his career, but he was a standout offensive player at Grosse Pointe (Mich.) High. He totaled 1,302 all-purpose yards, 42 receptions, 667 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns as a prep senior.
It’s possible he plays some offense at Michigan this season, Johnson revealed.
“A little bit, for sure. There’s a little buzz around the building, so we’ll see how it goes,” Johnson said. “It’s always a possibility, for sure.”
With a smile, Johnson admitted he’s started the buzz, but he’s not the only one talking.
“[Offensive coordinator] Coach [Kirk] Campbell always says something to me about it. [Head] Coach [Sherrone] Moore, he’s a little less fond of it, just because he wants to make sure I’m still out there on defense,” Johnson said. “All the offensive guys love it, and they want me to. They know what I can do, so hopefully I’m able to do it a little bit.”
