Will Johnson

HISTORY -- From School Profile

 CAREER HIGHS

• Tackles: 8 - at Ohio State (Nov. 26, 2022)
• Solos: 7 - at Ohio State (Nov. 26, 2022)
• Asst: 2, 2x - last vs. Washington (Jan. 8, 2024)
• TFLs: 1, 3x - last vs. Rutgers (Sept. 23, 2023)
• Sacks: none
• Int: 2 - vs. Purdue (Dec. 3, 2022)
• FR: none
• PBUs: 2, 2x - last at Penn State (Nov. 11, 2023)

At Michigan
• All-American (first team, 2023)
• All-Big Ten selection (consensus first team, coaches and media, 2023)
• Defensive MVP, 2023 National Championship Game
• Shared Defensive Freshman of the Year honors (2022)
• Two-time letter winner (2022-23)
• Appeared in 25 games with 16 starts at cornerback

Sophomore (2023)
• Appeared in 12 games with 11 starts at defensive back; made 27 tackles including 1.0 for loss with four interceptions (and one returned for a touchdown) returned 80 total yards among eight pass breakups to earn his second varsity letter 
• Named an All-American (first team) by Sports Illustrated; (second team) USA Today, The Athletic
• All-Big Ten selection (consensus first team, coaches and media)
• Defensive MVP, 2023 National Championship Game
• Three times, shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Purdue, at Minnesota, at Penn State
• Preseason All-American (second team, AP)
• Made his season debut playing defensive back against UNLV (Sept. 9)
• Made his first start of the season against Rutgers (Sept. 23) with two solo tackles including one for loss
• On the road at Nebraska (Sept. 30), started at the outside corner spot and delivered three tackles
• Intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown and added a solo tackle at Minnesota (Oct. 7)
• Started on the outside against Indiana (Oct. 14) and was credited with one tackle
• At Michigan State (Oct. 21), led the team with five unassisted stops
• Intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards against Purdue (Nov. 4) along with two tackles
• Broke up two passes and made two tackles at Penn State (Nov. 11)
• Made two solo tackles at Maryland (Nov. 18)
• Intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards against Ohio State (Nov. 25) and also made two tackles
• Made three tackles starting against Alabama in the Rose Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Jan. 1)
• Intercepted a pass on the first play of the second half against Washington in the CFP National Championship Game (Jan. 8) and added four tackles in a start at cornerback

Freshman (2022)
• Appeared in all 14 games as a defensive back and special teams contributor with five starts at cornerback; made 27 tackles with 2.0 for loss and three interceptions among six pass breakups to earn his first varsity letter
• Freshman All-American by Pro Football Focus, 247Sports, The Athletic
• Shared Defensive Freshman of the Year honors
• Named Special Teams Freshman of the Game following his performance against Hawaii
• On four occasions, named Defensive Freshman of the Game for his performance against Michigan State, Penn State, at Indiana, at Ohio State
• Shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance at Rutgers 
• Played at corner and nickel in his U-M debut against Colorado State (Sept. 3)
• Made two solo tackles playing in the secondary against Hawaii (Sept. 10)
• Contributed as a cornerback and also played special teams against UConn (Sept. 17)
• Played in the secondary against Maryland (Sept. 24)
• Credited with three solo tackles playing on the outside of the secondary at Iowa (Oct. 1)
• Made one solo tackle playing cornerback at Indiana (Oct. 8)
• Delivered two solo tackles playing cornerback against Penn State (Oct. 15)
• Made one tackle for loss playing in the defensive backfield against Michigan State (Oct. 29) 
• Earned his first career start at Rutgers (Nov. 5) and recorded his first career interception, which he returned 29 yards
• Started again and made two solo tackles with a pass breakup against Nebraska (Nov. 12)
• Registered four solo tackles playing corner against Illinois (Nov. 19)
• Started at Ohio State (Nov. 26) and delivered eight tackles a new career-best
• Picked off two passes and made a TFL against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship (Dec. 3)
• Started, broke up a pass, and made two tackles against TCU in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Dec. 31)

Prep
• Attended Grosse Pointe South High School (2022) coached by Tim Brandon; will enroll early at Michigan
• Four-year varsity starter, the first in program history
• Helped the Blue Devils go 6-5 in 2021
• Posted a 4-3 record his junior year in a COVID-shortened 2020 season
• Part of a 7-3 team his sophomore year in 2019 and an 8-2 club as a freshman in 2018

Key Statistics
• As a senior, made 45 tackles (31 solo) with 3.5 for loss, one sack and one interception among 12 total pass breakups
• Totaled 1,302 all-purpose yards receiving, rushing and returning punts; scored one punt-return touchdown and averaged 19.3 yards per return and caught 42 passes for 667 yards with six touchdowns
• Made 21 tackles in seven games as a junior in 2020 totaling eight pass breakups
• Caught 37 passes on offense for 600 yards and eight touchdowns; also scored on a punt return

Honors and Rankings
• Earned a 247Sports Composite ranking of five stars; the No. 20 overall player nationally, the No. 4 CB and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan
• Named a four-star prospect by 247Sports; the No. 37 overall player in the nation, the No. 6 CB and the No. 1 in the state of Michigan
• Rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 2 player in his region, the No. 4 cornerback and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan
• Rivals.com five-star prospect, the No. 26 player in the country, the No. 4 CB in the nation and the No. 1  player in Michigan
• On3.com five-star consensus rating, the No. 22 player in the nation, the No. 3 cornerback and the No. 1 player from Michigan
• On3.com four-star prospect, the No. 42 player in the country, the No. 9 cornerback and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan
• Semifinalist for the Maxwell Club High School Defensive Player of the Year
• Named a 2021 MLive All-State selection
• Top-10, Michigan Player of the Year by the Detroit News

Personal
• William Johnson was born March 29, 2003
• Son of Deon Johnson and Kafi Kumasi
• Father, Deon, was a defensive back at Michigan and was part of three Big Ten Championship-winning teams from 1990-94
• Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, majoring in General Studies