Consistency remains key for Cornelius Johnson's evolving role
Michigan Wolverines graduate wide receiver Cornelius Johnson has been part of a group that has been given plenty of opportunities to shine this year. The pass game has been at the forefront of the U-M offense, and “everyone eats” when J.J. McCarthy is slinging the ball around.
For Johnson, his biggest key to success on the field is consistency. Despite 72 catches over the last two years combined, he has been prone to disappearing for portions of games and concentration lapses. After 10 catches for 150 yards in two games, the work and focus is showing on the field.
“Consistency with preparation, going into each week, trying to have those to-do lists, even when it comes down to just copy and pasting the same thing over and over,” Johnson said. “Just making sure you get through those essentials, those reminders each day, getting on the jugs machine. After practice, getting in those catches, those extra reps, and even all throughout this whole 2023 year, all those reps add up. All those extra routes that we ran in the winter and spring [will pay off].
Michigan’s passing offense is ahead of the run game both statistically and development wise early in the year. The rushing attack is not catching anyone off guard anymore, and defenses have brazenly pulled out all the stops to slow it down. The Wolverines are out to make them pay for that decision.
“Everybody’s usually saying that Michigan’s a running team,” Johnson said. “We try and stay balanced. It goes both ways. Traditionally Michigan is a running team. But whatever it takes to win on a day. It’s a long game. You know what I mean? It hasn’t even gotten cold yet. It’s still September. So it’s gonna be a long journey.”
Michigan even got Johnson involved on jet sweep attempt that went for 26 yards against UNLV. It was just his fourth carry of his career, and first since the 2021 season. The program is trying to get him involved in different ways early this season.
“I haven’t got a handoff since, since the [Josh Gattis] days and speed and space,” Johnson said. “But it’s just another one of the situations where our coaches are trying to draw stuff up during the week to be able to get our players in a position that they thrive best, and get in the end zone, get those yards, get those touches that allows us to do even more and build off of that. Because now that we have that on tape, we can work with that and maybe have a compliment off of that. That’s something that I really think is important, because as a receiver, getting handoffs, that’s just another element to it.
“Once [another team] puts on the tape, they’re on their seat trying to figure out how to how to deal with that. They’re up late at night stressing about how, how are they are going to stop the Michigan offense? And it starts with what you’re doing every game, it’s your mentality.”
Johnson and the Wolverines will look to bring their evolving mentality into a Week 3 contest with Bowling Green, set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night in Ann Arbor.
