Cornerback Will Johnson, a five-star recruit from Detroit who helped Michigan win a national championship, will skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.
Johnson announced his decision Wednesday on social media. He’s widely expected to be a top-10 pick and was projected at No. 9 in The Athletic’s latest mock draft, though injury concerns could impact his draft stock. Johnson missed Michigan’s final five games and was not expected to return for the Wolverines’ matchup against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
From Will Johnson on Instagram pic.twitter.com/TRrIEKwudt
— Austin Meek (@byAustinMeek) December 11, 2024
When healthy, Johnson was a game-changing player who made some of the biggest plays of Michigan’s 2023 national championship season, including interceptions against Ohio State and Washington in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. The Athletic selected Johnson as a second-team All-American in 2023, and he was a first-team preseason All-American heading into his junior year.
Johnson played at an All-America level early in his junior season with pick sixes against Fresno State and USC. He aggravated a foot injury against Illinois on Oct. 19 and missed Michigan’s final five games, including the Wolverines’ 13-10 victory against Ohio State to end the regular season.
At 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, Johnson has the tools to be a lockdown cornerback in the NFL. Injury concerns aside, Johnson showed the ability to match up with some of the best wide receivers in college football, including Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2023.
“There’s a lot of guys that are 6-2, 200 pounds and can run and tackle and all that,” Michigan defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan said. “I think he does that with the best of them. The other stuff that he has that people don’t realize, that’s what separates him. That’s why he’ll be very successful at whatever the hell he chooses to do.”
Johnson is the second Michigan star to declare for the NFL Draft this week, joining defensive tackle Mason Graham.
Analyzing Johnson’s draft stock
After entering the season as my top-ranked prospect, Johnson didn’t have the 2024 campaign expected of him, primarily due to injuries.
He is a fluid, long athlete with clean footwork in his click-and-close transitions. His ability to quickly identify route leverage and drive on the break point might be what he does best (and what helped him set a Michigan record with three pick-six returns in his career).
Though Johnson still profiles as an NFL starter almost immediately, scouts are somewhat split on where he will be drafted. Some still believe he will end up in the top 10, while others think he should be more in the top-25 mix.
Aside from the injuries, one of the concerns is Johnson’s long speed — will he run a sub-4.45-second time in the 40-yard dash? Cornerback is a “stopwatch” position, so Johnson’s timed speed could determine how high he is drafted. — Dane Brugler, NFL Draft writer
Required reading
- 2025 NFL mock draft: Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward go top 3 in polarizing class
- Michigan’s Will Johnson balances business, football and a burgeoning brand
(Photo: Junfu Han / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
