During a brief break from spring practice yesterday, cornerback Will Johnson and a couple of other Wolverines spoke with the media, and the first-team All-American is expecting to play a larger role on the defence come autumn.
“I think just trying to be a better leader on this team this year, being more vocal, tightening down things that have always been kind of a normal thing.,” he added. “And some of the younger guys that might not know that, just keeping that standard of what has been the last few years and just holding guys to the standard that we’ve had, keeping that same mentality every day.”
Johnson returns as a more experienced defensive back, and his football knowledge will be critical for a Michigan secondary that is set to lose safety Rod Moore for the season. Moore had a catastrophic knee injury last week, apparently to his ACL, and his future for the 2024 season is in serious question. Johnson will be challenged to help bolster the back end of a defence that has already lost several key players from last year’s National Championship-winning group.
That’s not to imply Ann Arbor’s cabinets are bare. The reverse is true, according to Johnson, who has witnessed exceptional practice effort from players such as DJ Waller, Jyaire Hill, Ja’Den McBurrows, Zeke Berry, and Kody Jones in particular.
“All those guys have stepped up a lot,” Johnson explained. “So, they are taking the following move for the upcoming year. So, just keep stacking days during spring ball and improving each day. “We’ll be ready for the season.”
With Mike Sainristil entering the NFL Draft, Moore’s knee injury, and safety Keon Sabb transferring to Alabama, the University of Michigan secondary could provide plenty of opportunities for Waller, Hill, McBurrows, Berry, and Jones.
