Michigan football: Will Johnson breaks down Amorion Walker, Jyaire Hill, cornerback battle
Michigan Wolverines football is still searching for another outside cornerback to join sophomore Will Johnson in the starting lineup. Top contenders on the roster are junior Ja’Den McBurrows and sophomore Amorion Walker. Meanwhile, the Maize and Blue could bring in a transfer, and are hosting former UMass standout Josh Wallace on a visit right now (here’s the latest intel).
Johnson doesn’t seem worried about who the other cornerback will be.
“I think we’ll have possibly a transfer corner, Amorion [or] Ja’Den,” Johnson said. “All those guys will — whoever it is — be ready. I’m confident in whoever will be over there.”
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said this week that he still considers Walker — a converted wide receiver — the starter. But he mentioned that “a lot can change” from the spring to fall camp, which is slated to begin August 1.
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The upside is there for Walker, Harbaugh believes. He can be a “unicorn” at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds with blazing speed and a high-level ability to change directions.
“Just the way he moves — how fast he is, how fluid he is,” Johnson said of Walker’s best attributes. “All those things.”
Walker was “raw” in the spring, however. That was on display in the April 1 spring game, when he allowed numerous receptions, mostly to junior wideout Peyton O’Leary, a former walk-on. His development is a work in progress — but it’s progressing, by all accounts.
“He’s gotta learn how to move like a DB,” Johnson continued. “He’s gotta get used to going forward, used to going backward. Just trying to get him more comfortable — that’s really all it is right now. He has the tools, just gotta get him more comfortable.”
Added Johnson, when asked if Walker has to become more physical: “Yeah, a little bit. I think he has that, too. He has the physicality, the mindset. He has to learn how to think like a DB, and you gotta have a little edge to you to play DB. You gotta think and move like a DB.”
The Michigan cornerback then detailed what the traits of a good defensive back are.
“Physical, can run … always gotta think about the next play, can’t think about how someone caught a pass on you the play before that,” he explained. “Good ball skills. There are a lot of things that go into it.
“I think [Walker] has a lot of those traits, it’s just the mental side of things he has to pick up on.”
Michigan freshman cornerback Jyaire Hill enrolled early and flashed in the spring. He, too, has a lot to learn, but hopes are high for the former four-star recruit.
“He’s kinda raw right now,” Johnson said. “Really fast. Kinda like Amorion — just needs to clean up technique. He has all the traits, but he’s gotta clean a couple things up. He’s going to be really good, too.
“He might be somebody who could play this year, too. You never know.”
It’s important to remember Johnson didn’t start a game until November last season. Hill could be on a similar path if he improves this offseason throughout the fall.
Johnson is just a sophomore himself, but he’s the most experienced outside cornerback Michigan has on its roster, having started five of 14 games and played in over 600 snaps. He didn’t participate in spring ball due to a knee injury but has helped his teammates come along.
“Yeah, I still try to help Amorion, Jyaire and those guys, technique-wise when I can, when I can’t go out there with them,” Johnson said. “I’ll go out there and try to coach them up and give them some knowledge that I know. That’s all that I’m trying to do right now.”
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