With just one week until Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis, anticipation is building for the 2024 college football season. Fall training camps are fast approaching across the country, and there are just under 50 days until Michigan football's season opener against Fresno State on August 31.
Coming off perhaps the best season in program history, the Wolverines will enter 2024 with an even stronger roster in the form of “Team 145.” Now is a good time to break down each of the Wolverines' position groups heading into next season. “Favorite things”, “There's one thing I haven't done.” and “One thing to note”Up next is a position that features a future first-round NFL draft pick and several new faces. Cornerback
Up-and-coming junior Will Johnson Johnson is the best cornerback in the country. That's all there is to it. The former five-star prospect has been nothing short of sensational in his first two seasons in Ann Arbor, and there's no reason to think he won't continue his success in his third year. In 26 career games (16 starts) at Michigan, Johnson has recorded 54 total tackles (three for loss, seven interceptions, one touchdown, and 14 pass breakups). In 2023, Johnson was named an All-American and All-Big Ten first team and was also named Defensive MVP of the National Championship Game. This will be Johnson's final year at Michigan, but he's already had a great career. Next April, the cornerback will likely hear his name called early in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Outside of Johnson, there are plenty of question marks at the position. That's not to say Ann Arbor lacks cornerback talent — quite the opposite — it's just that those players haven't yet had a chance to prove themselves at the Power 4 level of college football. Michigan did add a transfer cornerback. Amir Hall (Albany) and Ricky Johnson Hall transferred to UNLV in May of this year, but both players bring college experience from the lower levels. Hall was an FCS All-American at Albany, which is encouraging, while Johnson played very well in his final 25 games at UNLV, with 71 tackles, 14 pass breakups and four interceptions. The big question for players like Hall and Johnson is whether their experience will hold up against Power Four competition. I'm confident it can, but it's hard to know until you see it.
A bonus “thing I don't like” is losing a sophomore cornerback. DJ Waller He also had some unfortunate luck with the transfer portal and eventual transfer to Kentucky. Waller flashed some great potential last season as a true freshman, appearing in 11 games for the Wolverines. He also recorded an interception in Michigan's spring game in April before entering the portal. It would have been nice to see Waller continue his development in Ann Arbor.
Despite losing Waller, Michigan has several young defensive backs who could step up this fall, with the top name being a redshirt freshman. Jair HillHill is set to have a breakout season and could even break into the Wolverines' starting lineup. The 6-foot-2, 181-pounder is part of a 2023 recruiting class that helped Michigan win over its hometown team Illinois, and the Wolverines could reap the rewards as early as this fall. Other players to watch besides Hill are the redshirt juniors. Jayden McBurrowswas plagued by injuries two years ago but contributed in the secondary and on special teams last year.
This article is part of a series examining all of the position groups on Michigan football's 2024 roster. For other position groups, Michigan Wolverines appear on SI Already covered here 🙁Quarterback, Run back, Offensive Line, Tight End, Defensive Line, Edge rusher, Linebacker)
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