The No. 2 Michigan football team may refer to itself as a no-star defense, but it’s deceptive.
Among other talented players, sophomore cornerback Will Johnson has established himself as a bright talent out wide. He has gained the admiration of legends such as Charles Woodson, who shares his renowned No. 2 jersey with Johnson. For his success, he was named first-team All-Big Ten.
But nursing an injured leg he tweaked in a 30-24 win against Ohio State, Johnson’s availability is in question for this Saturday’s Big Ten Championship against Iowa. And no matter how weak the Hawkeyes’ offense might be, the absence of such a talented contributor would be a major loss for the defense.
“My best ability is availability,” Johnson said Tuesday. “… I’ll do whatever I can to be out there Saturday, but if that’s not the case then I’ll be back next time we play.”
Johnson maintained that the injury is unrelated to one he suffered over the summer, but it is hindering him nonetheless. While he was able to be at practice Tuesday, he said his availability Saturday will hinge on how his leg feels.
Should he not play, the Wolverines’ defense becomes weaker. Iowa might have one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten, so this isn’t a case to sound the alarm. Nevertheless, his level of play helps the defense in a way that was evident in his limited action against the Buckeyes.
Saturday, he faced star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. nearly every snap the cornerback took. With a key first-quarter interception to his name and a few stops against one of college football’s best receivers, Johnson showed his talent, so much so that he earned “Michigan legend” honors from Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh on Monday even though he didn’t finish the game.
Make no mistake, Johnson didn’t just show up and clamp Harrison. Instead, much of his talent comes from preparation, which eventually led to that interception.
“I kind of had an idea what the play might have been, what they might have ran, that he was probably gonna run that slant,” Johnson explained. “So really just trying to kind of bait them into it a little bit and not let them know that I knew it was coming, but jump it once I saw it.”
That’s the blend of talent and preparation that he brings to the defense, making him invaluable against any opponent from Ohio State to Iowa. Michigan has the talent to shut down a team like the Hawkeyes with players like graduate cornerbacks Mike Sainristil and Josh Wallace. But against teams with a better passing attack in the future, it will want him for those games.
As more than three touchdown favorites against Iowa, the Wolverines still say they’re not overlooking the championship game. But with big games down the road — namely the College Football Playoff if they beat the Hawkeyes — they’ll want Johnson to be at full strength.
Johnson himself wants to be on the field for big games, something he made clear against the Buckeyes. Sitting on the sidelines in big moments frustrated him. In the biggest game of the season, he could only watch his teammates work without him until the clock hit zeroes.
“Really just mad, mad at myself that I can’t be out there, mad that I can’t support my teammates, but I know they have my back,” Johnson said. “They all told me they have my back and not to worry about it. So just trying to stay supporting them, stay positive, that was really my mindset for it.”
Whether or not Johnson plays against the Hawkeyes, Michigan cannot simply replace him one-for-one. As a result, if he isn’t up to full pace, his playing time will most certainly be limited. They may have huge games ahead of him that they want him to be fit for.
The Wolverines may portray themselves as a no-star defense, but when players like Johnson are away, they truly become one. With his availability up in the air, Michigan could find out this weekend.
