At the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, wide receivers like Malik Washington, Isaiah Williams, and Tahj Washington were among the best; however, Michigan wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (6022, 213) was among the greatest. During the practice week, I felt that Johnson’s combination of size and route running was unrivaled by anyone else.

Johnson has been an integral component of Michigan’s program for the previous few years, despite his modest stats this season of 604 yards and one score. They won a national championship this season and had back-to-back perfect regular seasons in 2022 and 2023 thanks to his leadership.

The way everything transpired, Johnson told me in an interview, “was crazy.” “Because we have been discussing pursuing that objective throughout the entire year. For Michigan football, this year was a big success. After this, nothing will be the same. You can’t ask for much more when it comes to being able to go out like that.

Michigan only completed 10 passes as a team in the National Championship game, despite Johnson’s meager three receptions for 25 yards. Since Johnson has been there, they have been constructed around the run, which makes his statistics appear less impressive than they otherwise would have under a different system.

Johnson is no stranger to producing huge statistical games at crucial times, even with this approach. His greatest performance may have occurred in 2022 when unbeaten #3 Michigan defeated undefeated #2 Ohio State 45-23 on the road. Johnson finished that game with two touchdowns, one from 69 yards out, and four receptions for 160 yards.

“That was really fun.” Johnson recalled. “Because that was different. We’ve played them at our place, but playing them at their place is like the ultimate challenge. Especially going to Michigan, there’s nothing else you can imagine rather than playing at their stadium, in that moment… game of the century. To be able to do that and to contribute to help the team win, meant a lot to me for sure.”

Johnson presents the Steelers with an intriguing alternative, particularly in the new Arthur Smith playbook that places a lot of emphasis on wide receiver blocking. Even though the Steelers won’t run the ball as frequently as Michigan did, it’s still good that Johnson has some experience with that kind of scheme and that he has the build to be a productive blocker in the NFL.

But Johnson wasn’t content to use that physicality in college as a blocker. At 82% contested catch rate per PFF, he was the highest in the country. Watch this play from the Shrine Bowl practices, where Johnson was flagged for a flag after making a difficult catch in the end zone.

It would make sense for the Steelers to bring in some youth to try to develop for a year behind Diontae Johnson, especially if they aren’t 100% committed to bringing him back, given that he may become a free agency following the 2020–21 season. Fitting the classic Steelers pattern, Cornelius Johnson is a large, athletic receiver with a ton of upside relative to where he will probably be selected in the draft.

I was also talking to Johnson about his middle school football team, the Riverside Gators. I had only heard stories about how the legendary squad held opponents scoreless all season and wanted to ask Johnson his recollection of those games.

“That one year is among [my favorite football memories].” Johnson recalled. We didn’t give up a single point—not even a field goal, really. It’s funny to consider that. We were also really young. I was ten, eleven, or twelve years old. I find it amusing that not a single point is allowed. And in the end, the championship was won by us. That team was enjoyable. I made a pick after one team managed to get within the 10. That was their closest encounter. I once pursued someone who had made a breakaway run. When you view the video, it helps you remember. Such kind of stuff is humorous.

Since middle school, Johnson seemed to have only achieved victories. We can only hope he continues this if the Steelers select him in the draft.