Michigan Football: Cornelius Johnson is yet another impressive wideout

Michigan football is loaded with talent at wide receiver and that has become even more apparent with the emergence of Cornelius Johnson.

In all honesty, Michigan football might have as much talent in its wide receiving core as any team in the country and with a group of stellar freshmen wideouts, the Wolverines are only getting better.

Of course, the Wolverines didn’t necessarily need any freshman to come in and make an immediate impact this season, not with guys like Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins, Tarik Black and Ronnie Bell after returning.

Just with those four guys, Michigan football would have a dangerous and talented receiving core. But add in Mike Sainristil, Giles Jackson and Cornelius Johnson, another freshman that has turned heads in fall camp and the Wolverines are flat-out loaded.

While much of the attention when it comes to freshmen wideouts have gone to Jackson and Sainristil, maybe because they are different than the traditional Michigan receiver, Johnson has started to get attention too, especially from his teammates. Here is what Collins said to the Detroit Free Press:

"“I love Cornelius. He’s a young guy, so he’s still learning, but Cornelius is going to be a great guy later on in the future. He’s going to be the man. I’m calling it. First one to say it.”"

Collins is one of the guys ahead of Johnson on the depth chart, but the 6-foot-3, four-star from Connecticut is reminding some of Tarik Black when he first burst onto the scene back in 2017.

Johnson may have been underrated a bit, just like Black, because he didn’t come from a state known for having a bunch of big-time prospects. But since arriving in fall camp, he has moved up the depth chart and could be pushing for playing time. At least he is on special teams.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh also joined Collins in praising Johnson. He said on his podcast last week, via the Detroit Free Press, that Johnson was “rocketing up the depth chart” and also that he has grabbed a spot as a gunner on the punt team along with Jackson and Daxton Hill.

We will see how far Johnson can move up the depth chart, but if he’s already going to be the gunner on the punt team, that means he will likely burn his redshirt by playing in more than four games, so Michigan football might as well let him loose as a pass catcher too.

And while Bell, Jackson and Sainristil are better suited to play in the slot, Johnson has ideal size and speed to excel on the perimeter. Either way, he will provide valuable depth and if say Black gets injured again or even if Collins or Peoples-Jones miss time, as both did during the spring, Johnson may be ready to fill their shoes.

At the very least, he will be prepping for a major role in 2020. If Peoples-Jones, Collins and even Black go the NFL early, he could be the No. 1 guy on the outside. But regardless of his role this season, it seems there is a consensus that his future is extremely bright.