Bill Kurelic's Will Johnson Update
247Sports Buckeyes Reporter Bill Kurelic dropped a new nugget of information yesterday that hopefully means positive news is coming soon for the Wolverines in their pursuit of Will Johnson.
"At one point I was close to Crystal Balling Will Johnson to the Buckeyes. He has said he was close to committing to Ohio State before slowing his recruitment down a bit. However, after the new hires started to be made at Michigan, Johnson took a step back. The hires overall helped the Wolverines, but I have not counted Ohio State out. I have long thought Johnson ends up at one of the two schools and I look for Johnson to announce his decision in the next two to four weeks or so."
Will Johnson: https://247sports.com/Player/Will-Johnson-46058580/
February 18th, 2021 at 10:59 AM ^
Definitely need this young man to come to UM. A solid 5 star at a position of need. Go Blue, Will???
February 18th, 2021 at 11:03 AM ^
Surprised he isn't considering MSU since they beat us last year and are clearly the superior program according to everyone on the board
February 18th, 2021 at 12:45 PM ^
JH is 3-3 vs the Spartans over 6 years with the latest loss being one of biggest piles of crap I’ve ever seen. Are they a superior program? Nah.
But if we use the W/L metric that real, non-imaginary football teams gauge their seasons by, their even. Don’t need the MGoFaithful for that one.
February 18th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
Logged in to upvote EYB.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
So, potentially in 2 to 4 weeks or so he may or may not sign with us.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:38 PM ^
No. Either way, he can't sign until December at the earliest.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
Dude sounds like Sam Webb when a recruit is slipping away from us. I take that as a good thing.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:23 AM ^
I don't see anything positive here. He "slowed down" his recruitment, took a look at Michigan, and now is ready to commit in the next 2 to 4 weeks. I know he is a legacy but to me it looks like he took a look at UM because of the coaching changes and is reverting to his original Buckeye plan. But all of that is just rank speculation at this point. It will hurt if we lose an in-state legacy of this caliber but that is what it looks like to me. I could try to talk to Johnson, he lives about a quarter mile from me and I walk by his residence often while walking the dog. But that would be an NCAA violation, somehow, because I am a "booster" via season ticket purchases.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:46 AM ^
I imagine it was good to get that off your chest
February 18th, 2021 at 11:46 AM ^
Sounds a bit stalkerish to me. But the idea that with how dirty recruiting is that if a lone wolf who's only connection to a program was buying tickets would get their school in trouble...I just don't know what to say man. The NCAA can't even police obvious recruiting violations. You must have majored in Magic Thinking because you're not nearly as significant as you think you are.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
I just want to be a bit of a dissenting voice here and say that I think your idea of dropping by on a dog walk is a great one and that I encourage you to pursue it and thereafter tweet about, maybe #WillJohnsonMakeTheRightDecision and @UMichFootball while you're at it???
February 18th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
Umm. No thanks. Please don’t.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:58 AM ^
Well shit, if it's that easy then all you have to do is throw on your OSU winter coat and puffball hat, stroll down his street and give him a few rolled up Benjamins while shaking his hand. All the while your dog is taking video and uploading to facebook live---problem solved.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:20 PM ^
You must be a tea grower and you found that one diseased tea leaf.
Congratulations.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:39 PM ^
Um, yeah. That's a bad idea regardless of rules ... for several reasons. But if rules keep you from knocking on his door, certainly go with that.
Focus on your dog on those walks. He adores you and deserves all of your love.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:31 PM ^
I believe Steve Lorentz has said the same thing a week or so ago. Unless we just crash next year, I can't see his dad will let him go to tOSU.
February 18th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
Sam Webb has regular conversations with Deon and has been increasingly more comfortable that this has turned back toward the good guys, though OSU was gaining during the coaching shenanigans. Apparently the father is strongly pro Michigan but is trying to let the son make his own choice. The fact that we just picked up two four-star DBs this month might be speeding him up a bit. At least that's what i'm hoping.
February 18th, 2021 at 1:07 PM ^
i have great sympathy for johnson's dad, having just lived through a very similar scenario with our 2021 son. go dad!
February 18th, 2021 at 5:08 PM ^
You had some guy walking his dog coming by your house too?
February 18th, 2021 at 1:05 PM ^
I'm a GP South grad from an earlier century so maybe I should contact him as one Blue Devil to another. He'll listen to my counsel I'm sure.
February 18th, 2021 at 2:39 PM ^
suggest you wait until halloween
February 18th, 2021 at 1:39 PM ^
so that's good news..... unless it isn't.
February 18th, 2021 at 1:52 PM ^
Sam Webb just updated his crystal ball for Will. I don’t have an account to 24/7, but it’s there for you that do.
February 18th, 2021 at 2:29 PM ^
He updated his crystal ball back to a 6 level confidence. He actually said that he thinks USC is the bigger threat. Michigan in a slight lead, USC the biggest threat and OSU always lurking.
February 18th, 2021 at 2:52 PM ^
Was it lower before?
February 18th, 2021 at 3:35 PM ^
Back in December or January I think Webb dropped his confidence from 6 to 2. During that time, Will supposedly was about to pull the trigger and commit to OSU. Harbaugh got on the phone with him and told him to give him some time. He then hired Mo Linguist and Bellamy and Will officially took his foot off the gas pedal. Over the past month or so, Linguist has been on zoom with Will regularly to discuss CB technique and details on the scheme they will run. Given the extension of the dead period, Will says he is now ready to make his decision and commit.
The most surprising nugget in my opinion is that according to Webb's sources, USC has jumped out in front of OSU as Michigan's biggest threat. I think Domani and the DB coach Donte Williams have been pushing really hard. But Webb moving his confidence back up to 6 looks like a good sign.
February 18th, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^
For no good reason and with lots of data to prove I'm a fool, I have a high level of confidence that Domani Jackson flips from USC to Michigan and joins Will Johnson.
February 18th, 2021 at 5:50 PM ^
Good enough for me. Fully on board.
February 18th, 2021 at 8:28 PM ^
You son of a bitch, I’m in.
February 18th, 2021 at 2:57 PM ^
Webb upped his confidence level on Will to Michigan.
February 18th, 2021 at 3:29 PM ^
I know there are plenty of times when we as readers of this blog, like to crap on the message boards of this blog. I would like to take a moment and point out something positive. The board can actually provide great info without the need to click and read the topic (and subsequent replies). For example, when I checked the main page and saw this topic sitting 5 deep on the board with a mere 27 replies, I knew immediately what it meant. Thank you MGoBoard.
February 18th, 2021 at 4:10 PM ^
We, the masochistic followers of CFB recruiting, know that package deals are basically not a thing, but what are the odds Jackson flips?
February 18th, 2021 at 5:46 PM ^
Sam and Steve said on one of their Michigan Recruiting Insider podcasts that Michigan's chances to flip Domani with Will in the fold + a year for Linguist to work his magic + on the field success would be around 30% as things stand. Basically, USC isn't going away, but Michigan would have a puncher's chance.
Getting Will to commit would be a great first step though, especially this early.
February 18th, 2021 at 4:46 PM ^
Good news for sure.
Cell Phone Bill butters his bread on all six sides ensuring he always called it correct
February 18th, 2021 at 5:12 PM ^
Has anything been said or does anyone here know what position Michigan is recruiting Dillon Tatum for?
February 18th, 2021 at 8:35 PM ^
Defense.
February 18th, 2021 at 9:56 PM ^
It's so weird. I went to his high school and the only school I even thought about was Michigan. I am not sure anyone in my class even thought about OSU. Of course that was (muffled voice) years ago. Times have changed and that's ok. Just a bit off that OSU is even on the board for a native Michigander, particularly one from that high school.