Sherrone Moore on Will Johnson's 'rare' skill set, Michigan DB position battles

Michigan Wolverines football cornerback Will Johnson played the 2023 season at around 85-percent health, his father, Deon Johnson, said in an interview for The Wolverine’s Michigan Football Preview magazine.

Johnson was banged up early on in the season, which limited his playing time during the non-conference slate, but worked up to better health so he could contribute at a high level in the meat of the schedule.

The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Detroit native did that, earning first-team All-America recognition by Sports Illustrated and accumulating 27 tackles and 4 interceptions. Johnson had a pick in the third quarter of a 34-13 national championship game win over Washington, which helped him receive Defensive MVP honors.

To do all of that at less-than-100-percent health is impressive.

“Which is crazy, because I never would’ve thought that,” head coach Sherrone Moore said when a reporter mentioned Johnson wasn’t fully healthy last season.

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Michigan has a battle for the other starting cornerback job, with multiple players contending to play alongside the All-American. Moore believes Johnson elevates their game.

“I mean, I think he just brings up the play,” Johnson said.

A highlight of Johnson’s freshman season in 2022 was a hard hit on Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford along the U-M sideline in a 41-17 victory. From that moment on, fans began to realize the level of physicality Johnson plays with at the position. Moore has watched him since spring of 2022, when the cornerback enrolled early, and is still blown away at his style of play.

“I haven’t been around many corners that are as violent in the run game and as violent in the pass game,” Moore said. “The dude was coming off the edge the other day and playing contain, and it felt like a linebacker doing that. For a corner to do that, it’s very, very rare.”

Moore doesn’t believe there are any cornerbacks in America better than Michigan’s.

“Obviously, elite talent level, elite person,” Moore stated. “The toughness, the leadership skills, all that, it’s just unmatched. It’s why he’s the best corner in the country.”

Michigan may not have anyone who can match that at the position, but it does need players to step up to replace the graduated Josh Wallace, who became an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams. Sophomore Jyaire Hill has been the man Moore has pointed to since after spring practices wrapped up, and he was the first name mentioned by the head coach regarding the competition.

“Right now, we’ve got a little battle on the other side, obviously because Will is Will,” Moore pointed out.

“Jyaire Hill has had a really, really good fall camp. I love ‘Sug.’ He’s phenomenal. He’s got a great personality. But when he gets on the field, he’s serious. He plays that way. But then as soon as he’s on the sideline, he’s ‘Sug’ again. But he’s really played well.”

Graduate Aamir Hall was the next Moore pointed to. The Albany transfer stands 6-foot-1, 201 pounds and has drawn comparisons to Wallace in terms of his personality. He played in 39 games at the FCS level, earning first-team All-America honors last season. Moore also discussed graduate Ricky Johnson, a UNLV transfer, graduate Keshaun Harris and senior Ja’Den McBurrows.

“Aamir Hall has really stepped up, as well, and has done some really good things,” Moore said. “Keshaun Harris is another guy that has played really well. Ricky Johnson, all of those guys have stepped up and are making some plays. Ja’Den McBurrows is another guy who’s done it, and he’s played a little nickel, too. But all those guys have been really, really good.”

Michigan is also tasked with replacing nickel back Mike Sainristil, a second-round pick by the Washington Commanders, and junior Zeke Berry continues to be the favorite. Berry has played just 45 career defensive snaps but impressed in the April 20 spring game.

“Yeah, Zeke’s done a really good job,” Moore said of if Berry is the leader at the nickel spot. “Zeke’s played some, Ja’Den’s played some. Had a couple other guys, but probably Zeke and Ja’Den right now.”