Michigan football: A fall camp star at cornerback
Michigan Wolverines football senior cornerback DJ Turner is considered one of the country’s top players at his position heading into the 2022 campaign. Pro Football Focus ranked him the sixth-best corner in the sport earlier this offseason, for example.
But there’s another veteran Michigan corner with more experience flying under the radar. Graduate Gemon Green, who’s started 12 career games and appeared in 29, returned for his fifth season and has taken steps forward in his own development. According to co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Steve Clinkscale, Green was the most impressive at his position during the spring and has had a great fall camp.
“It’s very competitive,” Clinkscale said of the Michigan cornerbacks. “Gemon Green, I felt, had a better spring than DJ did. We challenged DJ in the spring; he got better at the end of spring, and the summer, just getting better, you can see that the challenge between him, Gemon and possibility having a young guy like [freshman] Will [Johnson] and [senior] Mikey [Sainristil] — he plays corner [in addition to nickelback], as well.”
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Green led Michigan with nine pass breakups in 2020, and was a big piece last season. He suffered an injury that limited him toward the end of the season, plus Turner’s play surged in the second half, earning him more playing time alongside starter Vincent Gray. Green finished the 2021 campaign with one interception and two pass breakups.
Green has been a star during camp, notching three practice interceptions in the span of a few days. His teammates have raved about him, too.
“DJ Turner, Gemon, both have them have been playing really, really well these first few days of camp,” graduate wide receiver Ronnie Bell said Friday. “In one-on-ones or in one-on-one situations, you can tell how comfortable they are, and they do a good job.
“Our back-seven is elite, especially both corners,” sophomore linebacker Junior Colson said. “DJ has been lockdown, and Gemon — he’s that dude right now. Gemon’s that dude.”
Colson continued to praise the Michigan secondary. He believes that with the pass rush potentially needing more time to come along this season, the back end elevating its game will allow the Wolverines to still have success against opposing aerial attacks.
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“That’s one of the biggest things they’ve worked on [this offseason] — just being able to cover a dude,” Colson said. “And when the quarterback starts scrambling, keep on your man, plaster, all those things. So I think it’s going to be a big part of our game this year.”
Many believe it’s a matter of when, not if, that Johnson, a five-star recruit who enrolled early, is a star for Michigan. The Wolverines are in a situation where he might have to bide his time a bit, even though he’ll still find his way onto the field and get the chance to stand out.
“Those guys are really, really pushing each other, so nobody feels like he’s just the guy,” Clinkscale continued. “Even DJ, even though he’s a freak — what, the No. 31 freak in the country [per The Athletic writer Bruce Feldman’s list]. I think they’re all freaks, and they all have great ability to push one another, and the camaraderie is awesome.
“I think Gemon has definitely shown that he’s where we always want him to be. And he’s gotta continue to grow, and DJ will continue to push. But DJ, in camp so far, has really, really, really been impressive to me in certain situations, so I want to see him continue to grow as well.”
The trio of Green, Turner and Johnson will likely play quite a bit at the same time. While Sainristil is the leader at nickel, he’s also playing offense and may not be able to take every snap on defense. Additionally, the Wolverines will substitute and use different defensive backs situationally.
Turner has also shined at the nickel spot, and placing him there will allow Clinkscale and Co. to get Green and Johnson outside of him at the cornerback positions.
