Wink Martindale: Michigan CB Will Johnson is a 'unicorn' and 'tremendous leader'

Michigan Wolverines football defensive coordinator Wink Martindale spent the last 20 years coaching in the NFL, so he knows what pro talents look like. Junior cornerback Will Johnson is just that, appearing as The Athletic analyst Dane Brugler’s No. 1 NFL Draft prospect for the 2025 class.

The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder out of Detroit was a first-team All-American last season per Sports Illustrated, registering 27 tackles and 4 interceptions. Now much healthier and an upperclassman, Johnson is looking to take his game and leadership to the next level.

“I think he’s a unicorn,” Michigan’s first-year defensive coordinator told Big Ten Network. “It’s hard — and I’ve always said this — to be a leader when you play corner. They call it the island for a reason — you’re the only one out there on the island.

“He is a tremendous leader, and he does a lot of it just by what he does. He gets up every morning and he’s doing pilates or something at 6, something extra for his game.

“He studies tape, he’s always talking with [defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator] LaMar [Morgan] about, ‘How can we play this and how can we play that?’ He’s got a bright, bright future, which everybody knows. But it’s been a lot of fun and meeting him with his family, as well.”

Michigan graduate safety Quinten Johnson, a sixth-year senior who originally planned on heading to the NFL this offseason before deciding to return to Ann Arbor, shared how impressed he’s been with the junior earlier in fall camp.

“His preparation — he prepares like an NFL vet,” Quinten Johnson said. “Even yesterday, he’s doing 6 a.m. pilates in camp. Guys don’t do that. Thirteen-year vets in the league don’t do that.

“Just to watch the way he prepares and his technique and how technically driven he is, you can really learn a lot from him.”

Even his pre-practice routine with a regimented stretching cycle is impressive, according to sophomore cornerback Jyaire Hill, a projected starter who’s learned to emulate Johnson.

“I just follow what he does on the field, take notes on how he does things,” Hill said. “At the start of practices, how he warms up, gets his body ready, staying healthy.”

In his interview with Big Ten Network, Martindale also touched on the differences between the NFL and college games, his defensive staff, the standard set by last year’s Michigan defense and more. Here are the highlights from what he said beyond his comments on Johnson:

Why the NFL and college games have never been as close as they are now

“I just think with recruiting, first of all, and the NIL and all of those things, and some rules that are coming down the road. It’s getting closer and closer to it. I think everything is very relative. Everybody wants to make up reasons why this is harder than that or that’s harder than this, and it’s football. It’s still a violent game that, when you tackle well, you usually have a good chance of winning.”

On the differences between the college and pro games

“I haven’t really sat and thought about all of those things, because we’ve been doing so many situations. [Michigan head coach] Sherrone [Moore] has done a great job, as far as preparing us in camp of all the different situations. There are a few rule changes. I was yelling at an official the other day about, ‘it was uncatchable,’ and I found out that wasn’t [a rule in college]. And I thought the offensive linemen had to report. So I got caught up on all that real quick.”

On what he observed about the standard at Michigan when joining the staff

“I’ve been fortunate to know the Harbaugh family for a long time. I was with John way back in 1996 at the University of Cincinnati, and then I coached for him 10 years in Baltimore. I was with Jack Harbaugh when we won the national championship down at Western Kentucky. So I knew the culture coming in — the team, the team, the team culture.”

On all three of his defensive assistant coaches having been coordinators in the past

“It’s been a lot easier for me, I’ll tell you that, with having the three guys that we have with [defensive line coach] Lou [Esposito] and BJ [linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary] and LaMar all with their expertise at the position they coach, plus also being a coordinator.

“It makes it really enjoyable, because I just yell down the hallway, ‘What do you guys want to do with this?’ In the defensive staff room, we’re in there all the time, together.

“It’s been a fun staff to get to know, and it’s one of the most enjoyable things I have coming in the building is coming here with this staff. And they’re great recruiters — great recruiters. They inspire me.”