Cornelius

Johnson

Johnson (6’3/212) played five seasons at Michigan and started for the Wolverines in his final three years. A lanky outside receiver who averaged 14.8 YPR, Johnson, like most players in Michigan’s passing game, was limited by the team’s run-heavy ways and never totaled more than 620 yards in a season. For a player of his size and speed (4.44 40-time), Johnson never popped in any efficiency metrics and hauled in less than half of his contested targets for his career. He managed to catch 9-of-11 contested targets in 2023 to close things out on a strong note, but his overall lack of contested catches coupled with an 11 percent drop rate are concerning. Johnson will stand out in camp as a willing run blocker and could stick around on the back-end of a roster if he flashes other good intangibles.

There seems to be a different hero at receiver every week for Michigan. This week it was Johnson (6'3/211), who didn’t score in this one, but still managed to top 100 yards on the day. Saturday marked the second time Johnson has gone for over 100 yards this season, as he now has a receiving line of 28/556/3. He and the Wolverines now great ready for a matchup at Penn State next weekend.

Johnson (6'3/175) was on the receiving end of a well-drawn up trick play with QB Cade McNamara hitting him on a 34-yard touchdown strike off a flea-flicker for Michigan’s opening score of the day. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the sophomore wideout, as Johnson managed to secure just two of the eight passes thrown his way. Now, both of those catches went for touchdowns, but his efficiency certainly could be better. He will try to make it two games in a row with a touchdown next Saturday against Nebraska.

As Michigan were trying to close out the game in regulation, it was Johnson who stepped up to score a nine-yarder that could, maybe should, have put the game away. His touchdown grab gave the Wolverines a 35-27 lead with only a handful of minutes left to spare. Rutgers ended up scoring and forcing the game to overtime, where Johnson (6'3/195) did not score, but there is still plenty of value on Johnson having forced Rutgers to pull off a miracle in regulation to make this one close. Johnson has also increased his receiving production in all three games this year, both in terms of yardage and scoring.

Jackson (5'9/188), who signed with the Wolverines as a running back, has big-play ability on both offense and special teams. But Michigan State managed to keep the freshman in check for much of the afternoon, as 20 of his 58 receiving yards were gained on one play. Jackson was also responsible for 75 kick return yards (three returns) and 31 punt return yards (two returns) on the day. Jackson was one of three Michigan players that caught at least five passes in the loss, with Roman Wilson (five receptions, 71 yards) and Cornelius Johnson (five receptions, 52 yards) being the others. None managed to reach the end zone however, and they’ll look to avoid a similar fate next weekend when the Wolverines visit Indiana.

Johnson (6'2/197) will be on hand in South Bend to check out Saturday’s showdown between traditional powers Michigan and Notre Dame. Don’t expect to see him making the visitation rounds after this one, though, as Johnson plans on shuttering his recruitment once his senior season at Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick High gets underway in a few day’s time. Notre Dame’s showdown with Michigan will actually serve something of a two birds, one stone proposition, as he’s additionally intrigued by the Wolverines. He’s kicking around an official to Ann Arbor for down the road, with Stanford the other program occupying the front of his mental hierarchy at this juncture. On the 247Sports composite board, Johnson lands as the No. 36 receiver in the 2019 class. He’s planning on signing with his program to-be in December.

Simmons notes that the 6-foot-2, 197-pound Johnson is “one of the most fluid route-runners and natural pass catchers in attendance and he has the size, the verified athleticism and the film to support that kind of (rankings) rise.” As matters currently stand, the 247Sports composite board sees the Greenwich, Connecticut, native into the rankings at No. 299 overall in the 2019 class. The Opening Finals -- being held in Dallas -- kicked off on Saturday and will wrap up on Tuesday, a nice little football appetizer heading into the midweek Fourth of July holiday.

Johnson (6'2/197) will be visiting the programs on back-to-back weekends, with Penn State first up on Dec. 7 and UM to follow on Dec. 14. The Greenwich, Connecticut, native is also planning a trip to Stanford for January, date to be determined. He earlier took an official visit to Notre Dame for their win over Michigan to open the campaign. On the 247Sports composite board, Johnson ranks as the No. 256 overall prospect in the 2019 class.

The Wolverines have been active in the early going on Wednesday, having flipped S Daxton Hill from Alabama in addition to grabbing Johnson’s signature. He was considering Penn State as well, but the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder’s official visit to Michigan this past weekend may have ultimately greased the wheels for his eventual NLI. 247Sports analyst Brian Dohn compares his game to that of Kansas City Chiefs WR Chris Conley. On the outlet’s composite board, he ranks as the No. 256 overall prospect in the 2019 class.

Johnson (6'3/195) was one of the few Rivals’ three-star prospects at the event, but it was clear to them that he had the size and ability to hang with the best recruits in the country. Johnson caught two touchdowns which “came on great routes.” Rivals’ No. 69 wide receiver in the 2019 class, Johnson will be a name to monitor over the next three or four years.