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Steve Clinkscale on Michigan CB Will Johnson: 'He's ready to take on a bigger task'

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•11/02/22•

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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Michigan Wolverines football freshman cornerback Will Johnson has played in every game this season, with his 179 defensive snaps ranking as the 13th-most on the unit. He’s seen his snap count increase, playing over 20 defensive plays in four of the last five games.

Johnson has made some big plays, too. He landed a huge hit on Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford that was part of the reason why he eventually left the game. Against Michigan State last week, Johnson came up and made a strong tackle on wideout Jayden Reed behind the line of scrimmage.

Johnson has totaled 9 tackles this season, seven of which came during Big Ten play, including the aforementioned stop for loss. Johnson has been targeted in pass coverage 18 times this year, allowing 11 catches for 101 yards and 1 touchdown. Over the last three games, however, he’s given up just three catches and 11 yards.

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The former five-star recruit was sidelined for part of spring ball with a minor injury, and he hasn’t always been 100-percent healthy since arriving as an early enrollee in January. Now that he is, Michigan co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Steve Clinkscale has seen him take immense strides.

“Really, he’s healthy. So he just keeps stacking, keep building,” Clinkscale said of the growth he’s made recently. “For him, building more reps at practice, with him being 100-percent healthy right now, and then he’ll continue to get more reps in the game. With those reps in practice and in the game, he gets more experience, and we’re able to fix all of the freshman, rookie mistakes that he will have.

“But he doesn’t play like that; he plays like a vet. So we’re just going to continue to give him more go, more opportunity to go out there and impact the game like he’s been showing us. But I’ve been very pleased where he’s at, and I want to continue to push him.”

Johnson has been lauded by Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh for his physical nature and ability to come up and play the run, something not always characteristic of a young defensive back.

The freshman may see more time going forward, too, and Clinkscale said as much. For one, graduate cornerback Gemon Green, who’s started all eight outings, is questionable for this weekend. He reportedly was in concussion protocol as of Monday, after being attacked by a group of MSU players after last week’s 29-7 beatdown.

Green and freshman corner Ja’Den McBurrows sustained injuries during the assaults, Harbaugh said, but their statuses are uncertain.

“We’ve just got to keep seeing day by day where they progress to,” Clinkscale said Wednesday.

Either way, Johnson’s snap count is expected to continue to rise. He already came in and played well after Green allowed a few deep passes against Michigan State. More will be added his plate down the stretch.

“It was building,” Clinkscale said of his role. “You know, he’s a freshman, he’s got a lot of … everybody says ‘he’s a five-star, he’s this, he’s that.’ Always, when I bring the players in here, Coach Harbaugh and myself, we treat them like they’re our children. We wouldn’t want anybody treating them any different. So we do a really good job with these young guys of continuing to feed them that medicine — a little bit at a time, a little bit at a time — until they’re ready.

“And I feel like he is where he needs to be. He’s ready to take on a bigger task, and I think you guys will get a chance to see him each week, increase the reps and improve his play.”

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