The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING NOVEMBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 47 Deon Johnson, the former U-M player and Will Johnson's father, recently spoke with The Wolverine on a number of subjects. On Will's senior season coming to an end after Grosse Pointe South lost in the second round of the playoffs: "It's bittersweet. He's going to college soon, so I guess it's time to let go. We've been working out and doing every- thing together since he was like 5 years old. Now, it's time to turn him over to Michigan's staff and let them develop him into a better player than he is now." On the plan for Will before he grad- uates and enrolls early at Michigan: "He'll work with our group to increase his strength and flexibility. He's still going to be working with his speed trainer two or three times a week. We're going to get out and do some DB drills a few times a week. He'll be ready to play in the Under Armour All-America Game [Jan. 2], then Michigan." On his expectations for Will's freshman year: "I know it's going to be a heck of an adjustment from high school to college. I just want him to learn what he needs to learn to possibly get on the field and go out and compete. If he's lucky enough to see the field next year, I would love that. But if he's not ready, he can use that year as a learning year and take it from there." On the state of the Michigan pro- gram: "I still believe in everything Michigan is doing. Michigan State was a pretty good team, and they made some plays. We didn't capitalize on some plays we should have made. That's football. You are going to have those ups and downs. I still believe in them. William still believes in them. At this point, ev- erything is still good on our end." On the changes made on the defen- sive side of the ball: "I like the changes. I'm not sure what the situation is going to be at corner next year. Both starters have a chance to come back — really, all three. We'll just have to wait and see how everything plays out. But with the way they are mixing zone and man concepts together, I think they are doing a bet- ter job to put guys in a position to make plays." On the future of Michigan football: "As long as we keep recruiting good players and keep the coaching staff intact, I think the future is bright." — EJ Holland Deon Johnson, Will's father, played for the Wolverines in the early 1990s and is bullish on Michigan's future. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND Catching Up With Deon Johnson prove we have some of the best play- ers in the country. Mostly everybody is family up here. We like to compete with each other and have everybody's best interest at heart. We have each other's backs. We have a bond." Despite his five-star rating and end- less headlines and interviews, Johnson has the same Detroit mentality. After all, he isn't ranked as high as good friend Domani Jackson — an On3 Five-Star Plus prospect, meaning he was awarded the prestigious five-star ranking by all four major services, while Johnson is a four-star according to On3 and others. The reason? Well, Johnson's heard it over and over again — speed. It's not that he is slow. He works with a private speed coach year-round and led South to the state track meet in the relays. It's that he doesn't have verified times. Unlike a lot of other ballyhooed re- cruits, Johnson didn't take part in any major camps or combines and hasn't for a while. The only offseason events he participated in were directly related to Sound Mind Sound Body and Max Ex. "I didn't go to The Opening or the Ri- vals camps or Future 50," Johnson said. "I just did seven-on-seven with my team. I just feel like they are trying to find something to say about me. I think my speed plays out on the field. Obviously, if I have good coverage, I don't have to chase somebody down every time. It is what it is. I'm not worried about it. "I'm going to keep working. They'll see I have enough speed to do what I need to do on the field. Let them doubt if they want to." Michigan certainly believes in his speed and elite skill set. The Wolverines are fully anticipating Johnson to make an immediate impact once he graduates in December and enrolls early. A tall, long, physical prospect, he is sure to provide the secondary with a boost as soon as he steps foot on campus. While he's a legacy recruit, Johnson did have suitors across the country. Ohio State made a strong push for his services, as did USC and Oklahoma. But at the end of the day, he committed to Michigan. Being part of a family close to home, as well as a program in need of rein- forcements to right the ship, was im- portant to him. "It means a lot to go to Michigan," Johnson said. "It's different when you're playing at home. I want to go out and put on for Detroit and put Michigan back on top. "A lot of players from Michigan go to Michigan, so it creates a family atmo- sphere. You have to want to put on for where you're from. I talk to Donovan [Edwards] and those guys all the time. The goal is to win a national champion- ship." ❑ NEW!! For regular reports on Michigan football recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets, visit the all-new home of TheWolverine.com. NEW!! For regular reports on Michigan football recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets, visit the all-new home of TheWolverine.com.