Will Johnson On Potentially Playing Offense, Michigan Team Eliminating Complacency, More #Goblue
Michigan Wolverines football junior cornerback Will Johnson is on the cover of The Wolverine‘s 2024 Michigan Football Preview Magazine, which is available for preorder before June 17. The 2023 All-American and Defensive MVP of the national championship game joins a long list of U-M standouts who have appeared on the preview edition‘s cover throughout the years.
The first glossy magazine version of The Wolverine’s football preview was released in 1997, with cornerback Charles Woodson on the cover. The Pro Football Hall of Fame honoree went on to become the first and only defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy that season, before departing for the NFL, where he played 18 years.
There are parallels between the Woodson cover and this year’s with Johnson, with both defenders wearing visors that emanate a reflection. Woodson has also become a mentor of Johnson’s, with both players wearing No. 2 and playing the same position.
This year’s version is The Wolverine‘s ninth football preview magazine since 1997 to feature at least one defensive player on the front page, with the most recent being EDGE Aidan Hutchinson in 2021. Johnson and Hutchinson are natives of the state of Michigan, both from the Detroit area. Other in-state products that have donned the cover of the football preview indluce quarterback Devin Gardner (2013, 2014), defensive end Brandon Graham (2009), wide receiver Braylon Edwards (2004), quarterback Drew Henson (2000) and linebacker Ian Gold (1999).
In a conversation with The Wolverine, Johnson expressed his excitement about being this year’s pick, understanding the legacy involved.
“It’s an honor,” Johnson said. “Being a Michigan guy, being homegrown, and seeing a lot of the great guys that have been on there before me. It’s definitely an honor, and I can’t wait to do everything I’m supposed to do to uphold that this year.”
A former five-star recruit, Johnson has lived up to his billing as the nation’s No. 16 overall recruit in the 2022 class. Entering the 2024 campaign, On3 ranks him the No. 5 player in the country, after the 6-foot-2, 202-pounder collected 27 tackles and 4 interceptions last year. Johnson was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection and earned All-America honors from Sports Illustrated (first team) and USA Today (second team).
Michigan has lost just one game since Johnson and his class arrived on campus —the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal versus Texas Christian.
“That’s all we really know is winning, pretty much,” Johnson said. “We’ve only lost one game since I’ve been here, so I don’t want to change that for anything.”
The football preview magazine includes features on Johnson and other key players, a Q&A with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, other exclusive interviews, a position-by-position look at the 2024 Wolverines and much more.
Here’s a look at all of the covers of The Wolverine‘s football preview magazine since 1997:
| Season | Cover | Headline |
| 1997 | Charles Woodson | Double Trouble: All-American Charles Woodson A Threat With Or Without The Ball |
| 1998 | National Championship Ring | Seeking Another Gem: 1998 Wolverines Are Going All Out To Ring Up A Title |
| 1999 | Ian Gold, Dhani Jones | Pillars Of Strength: Senior Linebackers Ian Gold And Dhani Jones Provide Michigan’s Muscle In The Middle |
| 2000 | Drew Henson | Taking Charge: Junior Drew Henson Ready To Lead High-Powered Offense In Pursuit Of Big Ten Title |
| 2001 | Lloyd Carr | Gentleman General: Lloyd Carr Directs U-M Football With Class |
| 2002 | Defensive Line | Fearsome Front: U-M’s D-Line Leads Strong Defense |
| 2003 | John Navarre | Title Dreams: John Navarre And The Wolverines Are Gunning For A Championship |
| 2004 | Braylon Edwards | Chasing No. 1: Braylon Edwards And Wolverines Race To Remain Atop Big Ten |
| 2005 | Mike Hart | Title Run: Mike Hart And The Wolverines Are Eyeing A Third Straight Big Ten Crown |
| 2006 | Chad Henne | Stand & Deliver: Junior Quarterback Chad Henne Is Ready To Lead Riled Wolverines |
| 2007 | Chad Henne, Mike Hart | Dynamic Duo: Seniors Chad Henne And Mike Hart Aim To Cap Their Careers With A Championship |
| 2008 | Rich Rodriguez | An Era Begins: Rich Rodriguez Leads New-Look Wolverines |
| 2009 | Brandon Graham, Brandon Minor | Senior Strength: DE Brandon Graham And RB Brandon Minor Power The Wolverines |
| 2010 | Michigan Stadium | Open House: Renovated Michigan Stadium Is Ready For 2010 Season |
| 2011 | Denard Robinson | The Total Package: Dynamic Dual-Threat Quarterback Denard Robinson Leads The Wolverines |
| 2012 | Denard Robinson | Crowning Glory: Senior QB Denard Robinson And The Wolverines Have Their Sights Set On The Big Ten Title |
| 2013 | Devin Gardner | Leading The Way: Redshirt Junior Quarterback Devin Gardner Directs Michigan’s Offensive Attack |
| 2014 | Devin Gardner | Time To Win: Devin Gardner Has One More Chance To Take Michigan To The Top |
| 2015 | Jim Harbaugh | New Attitude: Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Brings Hard-Nosed Mentality To The Wolverines |
| 2016 | Jabrill Peppers | Taking Off: Linebacker Jabrill Peppers Is A Heat-Seeking Missle For A Team Thinking Title |
| 2017 | Rashan Gary | In A Rush: Sophom*ore Defensive End Rashan Gary Is Ready To Break Out |
| 2018 | Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich | Dynamic Duo: Defensive Ends Rashan Gary And Chase Winovich Form The Nation’s Best Bookend Combination |
| 2019 | Shea Patterson | One More Shot: Senior Quarterback Shea Patterson Returns With Championship Goals |
| 2020 | Dylan McCaffrey, Joe Milton | Young Guns: Dylan McCaffrey And Joe Milton Will Battle For Michigan’s Starting Quarterback Job |
| 2021 | Aidan Hutchinson | Ready For Takeoff: Aidan Hutchinson And The Wolverines Hope To Fly High After Last Year’s Grounding |
| 2022 | Ronnie Bell | One Step Ahead: Resurgent Wideout Ronnie Bell Looks To Keep The Big Ten’s Defending Champs Out In Front |
| 2023 | Blake Corum | Everybody’s All-American: Michigan And Senior Blake Corum Are Ready To Run It Back For More |
| 2024 | Will Johnson | Special Talent: Junior All-American Will Johnson Leads The Defending National Champion Wolverines Into A New Season |
