Will Power

True Freshman, Will Johnson is coming into his own at the perfect time for this Michigan defense.

Will Johnson celebrates one of his two interceptions in Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game with teammate, Eyabi Okie. Photo courtesy of University of Michigan photography.

By Derek Kornacki

Twenty-seven years ago, a Michigan freshman from Fremont, Ohio showed up on campus in Ann Arbor and chose, what at that time was an insignificant number for the Michigan football program. A number now almost synonymous with the program and the player. The famed, #2 worn by the greatest cornerback in college football history, Charles Woodson.

Many players since Woodson have worn the number, but it seems like most of the Wolverines’ top recruits over the past couple of decades have shied away from the number. Some probably just wanted to forge their own paths and build their own identities. Others, like Will Johnson (and teammate, Blake Corum) have chosen the number two as a statement. As if to say, I understand the weight this number carries, and I’m going to add my name to the shortlist of players who’ve worn it and attached their own legacies to the number. Blake Corum has certainly achieved that in his time wearing the number. Now it’s Johnson’s turn to see if he can add his name to that exclusive list.

Johnson was the top high school recruit in the state of Michigan last year and the only five star player in the entire state (according to Rivals.com). Growing up an hour down the road from Ann Arbor, in Detroit/Grosse Pointe, and being the son of a former Wolverine DB, Deon Johnson (who won three Big Ten Championships himself), Will was raised in the Michigan tradition. He understands fully what it means to put that winged helmet on. And even though Will was not yet born when Woodson had the greatest season a college cornerback has ever had in 1997, he knows full well what it means when he pulls that #2 jersey over his pads every day in practice. And he’s fully aware of the statement that he’s making every time he takes the field on Saturdays.

So that should tell you everything you need to know about the level of expectation that Johnson places on himself.

Johnson didn’t get nearly as much playing time this season as Woodson did in his freshman year, so it’s kind of pointless to compare stats. But for those wondering, he has, at this point, roughly half as many tackles and 3 interceptions to Woodson’s 5.

But with Michigan having a solid amount of depth at CB this season, it allowed the coaching staff to sort of ease him into his role this year. He wasn’t truly relied upon until starting CB, Gemon Green suffered a concussion in that criminality that took place in the tunnel after the MSU game. It was a pivotal point in the season, and when his number was called, he answered that call and then some.

So much so, that by the Ohio State game, he felt like an essential part of the defense.

There were points early on in both the OSU game and the Big Ten Championship game against Purdue that the Michigan defensive coaches clearly decided that they felt most comfortable with Johnson covering each team’s best receiver. A decision that certainly paid off.

You could make an argument that Johnson’s two picks in the Big Ten Championship game were the biggest plays of the game. They came at absolutely crucial points, when the game was still very much in question.

Something tells me that we haven’t seen the last legendary play from Johnson this season. And if you think those buffs looked good on Saturday, wait until you see Will in those playoff buffs…

This young man is just getting started on his Maize and Blue journey, and I think I speak for all of Michigan nation when I say, we can’t wait to see where that journey takes him. Who knows, there could be a Saturday in mid-December spent in New York, picking up some hardware…