6 bold predictions for Michigan Football in 2023

Will Johnson will win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

By the end of the season, the best NFL draft prospect on the Michigan football team might be Will Johnson and he won’t even be eligible for the 2024 draft.

Johnson, the 6-foot-3 cornerback, proved just how elite he was down the stretch last season. He was able to slow down Marvin Harrison Jr. during the “The Game” and then had two interceptions in the Big Ten championship game.

It was the kind of performance that reminded me of Charles Woodson, another No. 2. So far, Johnson has lived up to that hype and I think he’ll take it to another level in 2023.

Not only will he lockdown opponents, but he’ll also notch about five interceptions. The guy is just that good. The only reason that number might be lower is because teams won’t want to throw near him.

However, like Woodson, he knows how to impact the game as a hitter and tackler too. I’d stack Will Johnson up against any cornerback in the country right now and in 2023, he’ll be the best player on the best defense in the Big Ten.