Will Johnson: Michigan plays its 'best football' in the biggest games

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football junior cornerback Will Johnson was tested early and often in a 30-10, season-opening victory over Fresno State. According to PFF, Bulldogs quarterback Mikey Keene threw Johnson’s way a team-high 8 times, and he gave up 5 catches for 77 yards. He was also beat on a slant-and-go double move, but Keene misfired on the throw into the end zone for an incompletion.

Having a short memory is key for any defensive back, though, and Johnson — who was named a first-team All-American by Sports Illustrated last season — showed that in the opener.

After allowing some grabs earlier in the game, Johnson jumped a short route, intercepted a pass from Keene and took it 86 yards to the house to put Michigan up 30-10 late in the fourth quarter. The play was the fifth-longest interception return for a touchdown in program history.

“I think I did good, but I think I have a lot of room to improve,” Johnson said of his overall performance. “It was the first time getting back out there and being with the defense. I’m excited and glad we got the win. Excited to get ready for this week.

“Obviously, I don’t like getting the ball caught on me at all, so any time they catch the ball, it’s definitely not a good thing to me. But gotta go onto the next play and try to make a play when my number’s called.

“I wasn’t too happy with my performance before that, so being able to finish it that way definitely made me feel a little bit better about the game.”

WILL JOHNSON 86-YARD PICK SIX pic.twitter.com/VH9w04qOUH

— TheWolverine.com (@TheWolverineOn3) September 1, 2024

Johnson nearly stumbled after picking off the pass, but regained his footing and sped down the sideline to pay dirt.

“I have this thing on my finger, so I had to get stitches on my hand,” the 6-foot-2, 202-pound Michigan corner. “So when I caught it, I double caught it and I was trying to run fast at the same time. I noticed it, but it was kind of moving in slow motion when it happened.”

Will Johnson embracing Texas matchup, being the underdog

The Texas offense hung 52 points in a shutout win over Colorado State to open the season. Quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception, and 11 different Longhorn receivers caught passes.

Houston transfer Matthew Golden (50 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond (61 yards, 1 score) highlight the group. Michigan held Bond — a 5-foot-11, 180-pound speedster — to just 4 catches for 47 yards with a 29-yard long in last year’s Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal.

“They got a lot of good receivers,” Johnson said. “Played against Bond last year. I was on the same 7-on-7 team with Golden in high school. They’re very explosive, a lot of experience. Good set of guys.

“They got a very explosive group, very explosive team as a whole. Quinn Ewers is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, so we gotta be prepared for him, and we’re ready to go out and execute.”

Michigan hasn’t lost a home game with fans in the stands since 2019, with The Big House atmosphere proving to provide a big boost. On the flip side, the Longhorns have won big road games in the past, including 34-24 at Alabama last season.

“I’m expecting there to be a lot of excitement,” Johnson said. “There are going to be a lot of people up here, all the TV crews. It’s gonna be like the Rose Bowl, Ohio State games, those type of games. And I feel like that’s where we play our best football, so I’m excited for it.”

Michigan is a 5.5-point underdog to Texas. The Wolverines — who have the nation’s longest active win streak at 16 games — aren’t favored for the first time since checking in as a nine-point underdog at Ohio State in 2022. The Maize and Blue won that one, 45-23.

“No, we’re used to it,” Johnson said when asked if being the underdog matters to him. “It’s always been that way since I’ve been here, since I’ve grown up.

“At Michigan, you’re always an underdog no matter what you do, so we wouldn’t like it any other way.”