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Will Johnson joins legends as cover athlete for The Wolverine Michigan Football Preview Magazine: 'It's an honor'

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•06/11/24•

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Will Johnson
Michigan Wolverines football cornerback Will Johnson is on the cover of The Wolverine's 2024 Michigan Football Preview Magazine. (Photos by The Wolverine)

Michigan Wolverines football junior cornerback Will Johnson is on the cover of The Wolverine‘s 2024 Michigan Football Preview Magazine, which is available for preorder before June 17. The 2023 All-American and Defensive MVP of the national championship game joins a long list of U-M standouts who have appeared on the preview edition‘s cover throughout the years.

The first glossy magazine version of The Wolverine’s football preview was released in 1997, with cornerback Charles Woodson on the cover. The Pro Football Hall of Fame honoree went on to become the first and only defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy that season, before departing for the NFL, where he played 18 years.

There are parallels between the Woodson cover and this year’s with Johnson, with both defenders wearing visors that emanate a reflection. Woodson has also become a mentor of Johnson’s, with both players wearing No. 2 and playing the same position.

This year’s version is The Wolverine‘s ninth football preview magazine since 1997 to feature at least one defensive player on the front page, with the most recent being EDGE Aidan Hutchinson in 2021. Johnson and Hutchinson are natives of the state of Michigan, both from the Detroit area. Other in-state products that have donned the cover of the football preview indluce quarterback Devin Gardner (2013, 2014), defensive end Brandon Graham (2009), wide receiver Braylon Edwards (2004), quarterback Drew Henson (2000) and linebacker Ian Gold (1999).

RELATED: Preorder The Wolverine’s 2024 Michigan Football Preview Magazine (TheWolverine.com subscribers get $10 off!)

In a conversation with The Wolverine, Johnson expressed his excitement about being this year’s pick, understanding the legacy involved.

“It’s an honor,” Johnson said. “Being a Michigan guy, being homegrown, and seeing a lot of the great guys that have been on there before me. It’s definitely an honor, and I can’t wait to do everything I’m supposed to do to uphold that this year.”

A former five-star recruit, Johnson has lived up to his billing as the nation’s No. 16 overall recruit in the 2022 class. Entering the 2024 campaign, On3 ranks him the No. 5 player in the country, after the 6-foot-2, 202-pounder collected 27 tackles and 4 interceptions last year. Johnson was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection and earned All-America honors from Sports Illustrated (first team) and USA Today (second team).

Michigan has lost just one game since Johnson and his class arrived on campus — the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal versus Texas Christian.

“That’s all we really know is winning, pretty much,” Johnson said. “We’ve only lost one game since I’ve been here, so I don’t want to change that for anything.”

The football preview magazine includes features on Johnson and other key players, a Q&A with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, other exclusive interviews, a position-by-position look at the 2024 Wolverines and much more.

Here’s a look at all of the covers of The Wolverine‘s football preview magazine since 1997:

SeasonCoverHeadline
1997Charles WoodsonDouble Trouble: All-American Charles Woodson A Threat With Or Without The Ball
1998National Championship RingSeeking Another Gem: 1998 Wolverines Are Going All Out To Ring Up A Title
1999Ian Gold, Dhani JonesPillars Of Strength: Senior Linebackers Ian Gold And Dhani Jones Provide Michigan’s Muscle In The Middle
2000Drew HensonTaking Charge: Junior Drew Henson Ready To Lead High-Powered Offense In Pursuit Of Big Ten Title
2001Lloyd CarrGentleman General: Lloyd Carr Directs U-M Football With Class
2002Defensive LineFearsome Front: U-M’s D-Line Leads Strong Defense
2003John NavarreTitle Dreams: John Navarre And The Wolverines Are Gunning For A Championship
2004Braylon EdwardsChasing No. 1: Braylon Edwards And Wolverines Race To Remain Atop Big Ten
2005Mike HartTitle Run: Mike Hart And The Wolverines Are Eyeing A Third Straight Big Ten Crown
2006Chad HenneStand & Deliver: Junior Quarterback Chad Henne Is Ready To Lead Riled Wolverines
2007Chad Henne, Mike HartDynamic Duo: Seniors Chad Henne And Mike Hart Aim To Cap Their Careers With A Championship
2008Rich RodriguezAn Era Begins: Rich Rodriguez Leads New-Look Wolverines
2009Brandon Graham, Brandon MinorSenior Strength: DE Brandon Graham And RB Brandon Minor Power The Wolverines
2010Michigan StadiumOpen House: Renovated Michigan Stadium Is Ready For 2010 Season
2011Denard RobinsonThe Total Package: Dynamic Dual-Threat Quarterback Denard Robinson Leads The Wolverines
2012Denard RobinsonCrowning Glory: Senior QB Denard Robinson And The Wolverines Have Their Sights Set On The Big Ten Title
2013Devin GardnerLeading The Way: Redshirt Junior Quarterback Devin Gardner Directs Michigan’s Offensive Attack
2014Devin GardnerTime To Win: Devin Gardner Has One More Chance To Take Michigan To The Top
2015Jim HarbaughNew Attitude: Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Brings Hard-Nosed Mentality To The Wolverines
2016Jabrill PeppersTaking Off: Linebacker Jabrill Peppers Is A Heat-Seeking Missle For A Team Thinking Title
2017Rashan GaryIn A Rush: Sophomore Defensive End Rashan Gary Is Ready To Break Out
2018Rashan Gary, Chase WinovichDynamic Duo: Defensive Ends Rashan Gary And Chase Winovich Form The Nation’s Best Bookend Combination
2019Shea PattersonOne More Shot: Senior Quarterback Shea Patterson Returns With Championship Goals
2020Dylan McCaffrey, Joe MiltonYoung Guns: Dylan McCaffrey And Joe Milton Will Battle For Michigan’s Starting Quarterback Job
2021Aidan HutchinsonReady For Takeoff: Aidan Hutchinson And The Wolverines Hope To Fly High After Last Year’s Grounding
2022Ronnie BellOne Step Ahead: Resurgent Wideout Ronnie Bell Looks To Keep The Big Ten’s Defending Champs Out In Front
2023Blake CorumEverybody’s All-American: Michigan And Senior Blake Corum Are Ready To Run It Back For More
2024Will JohnsonSpecial Talent: Junior All-American Will Johnson Leads The Defending National Champion Wolverines Into A New Season

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