Michigan Wolverines' defense set to rely on talented freshmen as part of gameplan with Will Johnson battling injury
Throughout this season, Michigan Wolverines cornerback and potential top-ten pick in the 2025 NFL Draft Will Johnson has missed time in a few games. Last week in the Wolverines' loss to Illinois, Johnson left in the first quarter of the game, nursing a toe injury. In his absence, Michigan called on two freshman defensive backs […]
Throughout this season, Michigan Wolverines cornerback and potential top-ten pick in the 2025 NFL Draft Will Johnson has missed time in a few games. Last week in the Wolverines' loss to Illinois, Johnson left in the first quarter of the game, nursing a toe injury.
In his absence, Michigan called on two freshman defensive backs to earn their first snaps on defense. Safety Mason Curtis and cornerback Jo'Ziah Edmond, who had primarily played on special teams for the Wolverines early this season, made their defensive debuts against the Fighting Illini.
Curtis, a linebacker turned safety, saw 22 snaps, playing both deep and in the box. Standing at 6'5 and 200 pounds, Curtis was a four-star recruit and a top-ten player in the 2024 recruiting class out of Tennessee.
Edmond didn't play as much as Curtis last Saturday, logging just six snaps, but seems to be in line for more work moving forward. Edmond was also a four-star recruit and a consensus top-ten player out of Indiana in the 2024 class.
Michigan Wolverines among top programs in impressive recruiting stat as they close out 2025 recruiting class
Despite a season to forget so far for the Michigan Wolverines, they are still pulling in one of the best recruiting classes in the country so far in terms of talent. The Wolverines are sitting at 4-3 and are currently fighting for a bowl game bid with a tough Big Ten slate remaining. Even with […]
In the rest of their Big Ten schedule, Michigan is seemingly ready to call on the pair of defensive backs to inject some playmaking ability into the secondary.
Defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan spoke about getting them involved last week with the injury to Johnson and what they have proven in practice.
"Those guys get a lot of reps at practice, and I thought it was really good for those guys to be able to get in the game in a conference game on the road. Trying to get their feet wet. Mason and both of them have been playing special teams, but that was the first game that those guys played on defense, and I thought they did a good job. We just gotta continue to get them better at practice. They’re both smart kids, they both want to be right, they just gotta get experience."
Both Curtis and Edmond have already seen action in three games, meaning both would risk burning their redshirts if they continue to play in 2024. With how impressed the coaching staff seemingly has been with the two, I think the staff would be more than fine with doing so.
With Johnson potentially missing this week's game against Michigan State, the Wolverines' cornerback depth becomes pretty thin. Albany transfer Aamir Hall took the lion's share of snaps opposite of Jyaire Hill, but has struggled in Big Ten play this season. Without a clear answer here, it's not a surprise the staff might turn to Edmond to play more this week.
Michigan's safeties have been a clear weakness of the team this season. Quinten Johnson has busted multiple coverages, and the unit has been unproductive with just one interception and three pass breakups. Curtis doesn't seem like the type who will be a ballhawk style of free safety, given his stature, but if he can just be in the right position, it would be an upgrade.
Lamar Morgan is excited about their potential and seems ready to give them more opportunities moving forward.
"Moving forward, of course those guys are a part of the game plan. They’re getting tons of reps. We roll a lot of guys at practice, try to roll a lot of guys in the games but I’m excited about those two guys.
