Michigan safety Quinten Johnson plans to continue playing for the Wolverines in 2024, marking his sixth season with the team.
Despite losing nearly two dozen players to the NFL Draft this winter, it appears that one of them has decided to return after all. While the exact timing of this decision remains unclear, 247Sports confirmed on Monday night that backup safety Quinten Johnson intends to play a sixth season with the Wolverines in 2024.
Johnson, who will turn 24 in June, had previously declared for the NFL Draft on February 2. During the last season, he participated in all 15 games for Michigan, recording 22 tackles, one interception, five pass breakups, and forcing one fumble in 323 defensive snaps, primarily serving as a backup safety. Despite not playing any defensive snaps in 2019 or 2020, and only nine in 2021, he saw significant action in the 2022 season, totaling 163 defensive snaps.
Throughout his tenure, Johnson has been a consistent presence in Michigan’s lineup, appearing in the last 41 games and making notable contributions on special teams as well. In the 2021 season, he ranked fourth on the team with 282 special teams snaps, followed by leading the team with 252 snaps in 2022, and ranking fifth with 178 snaps in the last fall.
In the upcoming 2024 season, Johnson is expected to serve as a backup to returning standout safeties Rod Moore and Makari Paige. Despite the departure of the previous No. 3 safety, Keon Sabb, who transferred to Alabama, Johnson actually played more defensive snaps than Sabb in Michigan’s first 14 games before an injury limited his participation in the national title game to just one snap.
However, Johnson will face competition for playing time in 2024, with players like Brandyn Hillman, Zeke Berry, and early enrollee Jacob Oden vying for snaps at safety. Additionally, the team will be adjusting to a new defensive backs coach, LaMar Morgan, who was hired last month after previously serving as the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Louisiana.
According to NCAA regulations, a player can withdraw from the NFL Draft by February 2, provided they do not engage with agents, accept benefits, participate in prolonged tryouts with professional teams, miss class due to professional tryouts, or fail to formally declare their intention to resume college participation.
