Will Johnson's plan is coming together: Michigan CB ready to help Wolverines peak in November
Michigan Wolverines football sophomore cornerback Will Johnson underwent knee surgery this offseason, forcing him to rehab and be limited during fall camp. He wanted to be out there in the season opener against East Carolina or the third game of the year versus Bowling Green (he played 8 snaps against UNLV in Week 2). But easing into the season was always part of the plan. Now, he’s feeling better and ready to roll heading into the stretch run.
“Every week, I continue to get healthier — stronger, faster — so I’m just trying to keep improving every week,” Johnson said Tuesday night before Michigan takes on Purdue Saturday. “My knee’s feeling great right now, so I’m pretty much getting back to 100 percent.”
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There was surely some frustration when Johnson would’ve rather been playing early on in the season, but he thought about this time of year — November — and the bigger picture.
“I think that was the reason I was sitting out, just trying to make sure I was ready for these games and the last stretch of the year,” the 6-2, 202-pounder said. “Just continue to improve and not set myself back at all, so I think I’m in a good spot right now. And I’m continuing to try to get in an even better spot, so I think it was good those first couple games, what I did, and I think it helped me out.”
Michigan sophomore cornerback Amorion Walker, a converted wide receiver, was also injured during fall camp. He didn’t play until Week 5 at Nebraska but has seen his snap count move up since then. He played 23 plays on defense in a 49-0 win at Michigan State the last time out, registering the first pass breakup of his career. Freshman DJ Waller Jr., too, has been rising on the depth chart and also recorded a pass breakup versus the Spartans.
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Johnson believes the duo will continue to ascend.
“I think those guys are super talented, it just takes usually about that Week 7, Week 8, freshmen usually start to get comfortable out there and make plays,” Johnson said. “I think every week they’re continuing to get comfortable, which is a big thing for them, because they’re both kind of new to it. Amorion is new to it; DJ just got here. So, I think they’re going to keep getting better, and the sky’s the limit for them.”
Both had a chance at making interceptions but didn’t quite corral the ball.
“Just gotta finish,” their Michigan teammate continued. “It was both of their first play in, they both got the ball thrown at them and they both made a play. Just happy to see them both make a play, and now they know, they’ve got that experience and it’s going to be better for them next time.”
The Wolverines are ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, a spot lower than in the AP poll, heading into the final four games of the regular season (Purdue, at No. 11 Penn State, at Maryland, No. 1 Ohio State). The program is also being investigated for alleged illegal in-person scouting, which has led to some on the outside questioning how good Michigan really is. Johnson and his teammates don’t seem too worried about what’s being said outside Schembechler Hall.
“We just know all the work we put in to be here,” Johnson said. “We know what it took. We know how hard we work, how hard our coaches coach us. We have a lot of trust in each other and our coaches, so whatever anybody says outside of the building doesn’t really mean anything — or rankings or opinions, all that, it’s just talk until we go out there on the field. So, that’s all we’re worried about.”
