Will Johnson

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (47th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Michigan. Was the 17th Michigan player ever drafted by the Cardinals and the first since 2018.
• In his final two seasons (2023-24) with the Wolverines, had six INTs (3 returned for TDs) with no TD catches allowed on 478 coverage snaps according to ProFootballFocus.com. In a remarkable 2023 campaign, he allowed just 17 completions on 37 targets and 321 coverage snaps. Had four INTs and did not allow a TD reception that season.
• Named the Defensive MVP in Michigan's 34-13 victory over Washington in the CFP National Championship Game to cap the 2023 season. He had four tackles and intercepted a pass on the first play of the second half in the Wolverines win.
• Johnson and his father, Deon, starred at the same high school before going on to success at Michigan. The elder Johnson was a DB for the Wolverines (1990-94) and was part of three Big Ten Championship-winning teams while Will won back-to-back Big Ten Championships (2022-23). Both Johnsons started at Grosse Pointe South (MI) High School before playing for the Wolverines.

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (47th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Michigan. Was the 17th Michigan player ever drafted by the Cardinals and the first since 2018.
• In his final two seasons (2023-24) with the Wolverines, had six INTs (3 returned for TDs) with no TD catches allowed on 478 coverage snaps according to ProFootballFocus.com. In a remarkable 2023 campaign, he allowed just 17 completions on 37 targets and 321 coverage snaps. Had four INTs and did not allow a TD reception that season.
• Named the Defensive MVP in Michigan's 34-13 victory over Washington in the CFP National Championship Game to cap the 2023 season. He had four tackles and intercepted a pass on the first play of the second half in the Wolverines win.
• Johnson and his father, Deon, starred at the same high school before going on to success at Michigan. The elder Johnson was a DB for the Wolverines (1990-94) and was part of three Big Ten Championship-winning teams while Will won back-to-back Big Ten Championships (2022-23). Both Johnsons started at Grosse Pointe South (MI) High School before playing for the Wolverines.

College Career:

In three seasons (2022-24) with the Wolverines, was a two-time All-American and two-time All-Big 10 selection who appeared in 32 games (21 starts) and totaled 68 tackles, nine INTs (three returned for TDs), 237 INT return yards, 10 passes defensed and four tackles for loss … his three career INT return TDs set a Michigan school record.

2024: As a junior in 2024, started all six games played and totaled 14 tackles, two INTs (both returned for TDs), three passes defensed and a tackle for loss … earned third-team All-American honors from the AP and was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist … named second-team All-Big 10 by the media with honorable mention honors from the conference coaches … had a career-long 86-yard INT return TD in the season opener vs. Fresno State (8/31) and added a 42-yard INT return TD vs. USC (9/21) … his two INT return TDs tied for the most in the country and his 128 INT return yards led the Big 10 … shared Defensive Player of the Game honors three times (Fresno State, Arkansas and USC).

2023: Earned first-team All-American (Sports Illustrated), second-team All-American (USA Today, The Athletic) and consensus first-team All-Big 10 honors as a sophomore after starting 11-of-12 games played and totaling 27 tackles, four INTs (one returned for a TD), four passes defensed and a tackle for loss … capped the season by being named the Defensive MVP in the Wolverines 34-13 victory over Washington (1/8/24) in the CFP National Championship Game (four tackles, INT) … according to PFF.com, allowed just 17 completions on 37 targets and 321 coverage snaps for the year, totaling four INTs with no TD receptions allowed … shared Defensive Player of the Week honors three times (Purdue, at Minnesota & at Penn State) … had his first career INT return TD at Minnesota (10/7), picking off a pass and returning it 36 yards for a TD.

2022: Appeared in all 14 games as a true freshman, including five starts at cornerback … earned Freshman All-American honors (PFF.com, The Athletic) after totaling 27 tackles, three INTs, three passes defensed and three tackles for loss … shared Defensive Freshman of the Year honors and was named Defensive Freshman of the Game four times (Michigan State, Penn State, at Indiana & at Ohio State) … had an INT (returned 29 yards) in his first college start at Rutgers (11/5) … collected a pair of INTs and a tackle for loss vs. Purdue in the Big 10 Championship Game (12/3) … had two tackles and a pass defensed vs TCU (12/31) in the Fiesta Bowl/CFP semifinal at State Farm Stadium.

Personal:

Attended Grosse Pointe South (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI) High School where he was the first four-year varsity starter in school history … named a five-star recruit and the #20 overall player nationally by 247Sports Composite Rankings and was rated the #1 player in the state of Michigan by ESPN.com … a semifinalist for the Maxwell Club High School Defensive Player of the Year and was a top-10 Michigan Player of the Year selection that year after totaling 45 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an INT and 12 passes defensed … also totaled 1,302 all-purpose yards receiving, rushing and returning punts … scored one punt-return TD and averaged 19.3 yards per return while he caught 42 passes for 667 yards with six TDs … as a junior in 2020, had 21 tackles and eight passes defensed on defense while adding 37 receptions for 600 yards and eight TDs with a punt return TD … enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at Michigan, majoring in General Studies.