Tag: Ricky Johnson

2024 Season Countdown: #54 Ricky Johnson

Name: Ricky Johnson
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Houston (TX) Cy Falls
Position: Cornerback
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #22
Last year: Bell was a redshirt junior at UNLV. He made 36 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 7 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: N/A

Michigan went hard after defensive backs in the transfer portal because there was so much turnover in the off-season. Cam Calhoun (Utah), D.J. Waller (Kentucky), Amorion Walker (Ole Miss), and Keon Sabb (Alabama) all transferred, starters Josh Wallace and Mike Sainristil both moved on to the NFL, and starter Rod Moore tore his ACL in spring practice. And while Walker did return to Ann Arbor after the spring, he moved over to wide receiver, anyway. So Michigan lost six defensive backs and replaced them with four experienced transfers and then the incoming freshmen. (NOTE: This doesn’t even include Quinten Johnson, who declared for the NFL Draft and then returned to Michigan for a sixth year.)

As for Johnson himself, he came from UNLV, where he started two games at cornerback and three at strong safety; his PFF grades were not very good. It’s hard to expect a part-time starter at UNLV to step in at Michigan and start immediately, but he does have two years of eligibility left, so he could be a developmental guy with an eye toward 2025. Nobody’s expecting Johnson to start, but he’s one of the more experienced defensive backs on the roster and could be a valuable backup if things get rocky for some of the young guys.

Prediction: Backup cornerback

Ricky Johnson, Wolverine

UNLV transfer Ricky Johnson has committed to Michigan after a midweek visit. He was previously committed to Washington State.

Johnson is a 6’1″, 180 lb. player who is entering his fifth year of college football. Originally out of Houston (TX) Cypress Falls in the class of 2020, he played in four games that first year that didn’t count against his eligibility. He also suffered an injury in 2022 that limited him to three games, meaning he would get an injury redshirt for that season. So he has only used up two years of eligibility and should have two remaining for the 2024 and 2025 seasons if he wishes to use both.

Johnson was ranked as a 3-star, the #151 safety, and #1951 overall in 2020 and has been a starter for UNLV since his second year on campus, but injuries have limited his time on the field. Altogether, he has played in 27 games, making 78 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, and 10 pass breakups. He did not play in the 2023 game against Michigan due to injury.

Johnson and fellow transfer portal commitment Aamir Hall give Michigan a couple good options to fight for playing time across from Will Johnson. Johnson has a ton of impressive plays on his highlight reel, but his PFF grades are mediocre; he grades out better as a run defender and tackler than in pass coverage. He appears to be more of a third or fourth corner, and I would not expect him to start this fall.

Here are some clips of his time at UNLV:

Here are some highlights from his high school days: