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WATCH: Michigan RB Kalel Mullings, CB Will Johnson discuss team coming off bye week

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie10/16/24CSayf23
Will Johnson
Michigan Wolverines football cornerback Will Johnson was named an All-American in 2023. (Photo by Clayton Sayfie / TheWolverine.com)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football graduate running back Kalel Mullings and junior cornerback Will Johnson met with the media Tuesday night ahead of their team’s matchup with Illinois. Watch video of the media sessions below.

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RB Kalel Mullings

Michigan graduate quarterback Jack Tuttle will make his first career start at U-M this week at Illinois. Mullings believes he helps the offense become more balanced.

“Yeah, it feels like [he provides more balance],” Mullings said. “It feels like it, for sure. But just props to Jack, because being able to go out there and compete and play and run an offense with little prep time is hard to do. So definitely felt like it, but it was only sort of a half. So we’ll see how it continues to develop. But yeah, definitely felt like it.”

Washington coach Jedd Fisch told NBC at halftime that the Huskies would have to play “normal defense” with Tuttle in the game after he came in. Mullings said the run game, though, will still be a big part of what Michigan does.

“Obviously, that’s our identity,” Mullings said. “A huge part of our identity is running the ball. But football is football — we gotta be able to do everything.

“As football players, we just look to do our jobs, and we can’t really help what defense we’re playing against. We’re just trying to do the best we can.”

CB Will Johnson

Johnson was asked how he’d advise Michigan’s younger defensive backs who have struggled at times this season.

“I mean, it all comes down to knowing your assignment, knowing where your help is, film study and being prepared for game day. So doing that throughout the week will help you be ready for the games.

“I try to help everybody that asks me questions. All the guys that don’t have as much experience — Zeke, Jyaire, B-Hill, really all those guys. I try to help out as much as I can.”

Michigan has allowed a lot of explosive plays this season, and limiting those it a focus going into the second half of the campaign.

“We gotta be better,” the Michigan corner said. “We gotta be better at not letting them get that, be disciplined, have good eyes and make plays when the ball is thrown to our side.”

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