Aidan Hutchinson stands and stare at Marvin Harrison Jnr as he prepares to defend himself. The No. 2 Michigan football team might coin itself as a no-star defense, but it’s lying.
Among other skilled contributors, sophomore cornerback Will Johnson has cemented himself as a radiant talent out wide. He has made a fan of legends like Charles Woodson, who shares his famed No. 2 on his jersey with Johnson. He even earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for his stardom.
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.
