Will Johnson says he models his game after Panthers CB Jaycee Horn
Will Johnson says he models his game after Panthers CB Jaycee Horn
The Carolina Panthers probably feel pretty lucky that they have cornerback Jaycee Horn. But how would they feel if they had two of him?
Thursday's media availability from the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine featured University of Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, a potential target for the Panthers' upcoming first-round pick. During his time at the podium, the standout defender was asked who he models his game after—and credited one of Carolina's 2024 Pro Bowlers . . .
"Dawg," huh?
Anyway, this wouldn't be the first time a link has been made between Johnson and Horn. NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein actually noted Horn as Johnson's pro comparison in his recent scouting report—one in which he praises the 21-year-old for having Pro Bowl potential.
Johnson will enter the pros after a decorated collegiate career with the Wolverines. The Detroit, Mich. native departs Ann Arbor as a 2023 first-team All-American, a 2024 second-team All-American and the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game's Defensive Most Valuable Player.
He could soon add "eighth overall pick" to that list, the same exact title a certain someone also holds.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
12 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Stanley Cup Final Game 5 facts and questions for Panthers vs. Oilers, tied 2-2
Saturday's Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Panthers and Edmonton Oilers could be the pivotal game of this series. Or, it could be just another turbulent classic that leaves puckheads sweating, gasping and asking 'When's Game 6?' Here's what you need to know. ▪ What's the deal: The teams will be in Edmonton's Rogers Place for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final with series tied 2-2 after the Oilers won Game 4 in overtime. TV game time is 8 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max as well as streaming outlets. ▪ What's at stake: The winner gets a 3-2 series lead in the best-of-7 series and will have the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup in Sunrise during Tuesday's Game 6. Since the 1967 expansion from the NHL's six-team era, when a Stanley Cup Final is tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner also won the series 11 of 16 times. ▪ Advice for fans: Keep the cafetera ready to make some cafe Cubano for yourself or your watch party. Three of the four games have gone into overtime, two after tying goals in the last 20 seconds of regulation. ▪ Key question for Edmonton: Will Calvin Pickard start in goal after Stuart Skinner got yanked in Games 3 and 4? In both cases, Skinner didn't play badly. In fact, he did well to not give up more goals while the Oilers, by their own admission, flat stunk in front of him. But, Pickard's 7-0 in these playoffs with a better goals against average (2.69) and save percentage (.896) compared to Skinner (2.99, .891) and only lost his job to injury in the second round. ▪ Key question for the Panthers: Did blowing a 3-0 lead and losing Game 4 in overtime shake the psychological equilibrium that's allowed them to surf successfully the wins and wipeouts over the last three years of NHL playoffs and make three Stanley Cup Finals. ▪ Key question for both teams: Can they keep up this series' breathless pace after a a 2,500-mile flight sucks up the lone off day before Game 5? Both coaches, who have been in Stanley Cup Finals before and in hockey their whole lives, remarked on the pace, physicality, the quality of hockey from board battles to open ice skill plays. 'I think [experience and conditioning] all those play a factor, but there's an excitement for both teams that will build as you get toward the end. It's a grinder,' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. 'So, you actually find more energy toward the end of a series because there's not another one after this.'
USA Today
15 minutes ago
- USA Today
Packers RB Josh Jacobs led NFL in rushing yards negated by penalty in 2024
Packers RB Josh Jacobs led NFL in rushing yards negated by penalty in 2024 Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs led all NFL players in rushing yards negated by penalties and was tied for the NFL lead in touchdowns negated by penalties during the 2024 season, per a Friday the 13th deep drive into "unlucky" stats by Kevin Patra. Jacobs lost out on 94 rushing yards, the most among all NFL players, and three touchdowns, tied for the most. Among the touchdowns that didn't count was a 19-yard touchdown run nullified by a holding penalty against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 29 and a 6-yard receiving touchdown nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 5. The Packers lost both games. Jacobs also had a 20-yard touchdown run negated by a holding penalty against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 15, delaying his first career Lambeau Leap. Much of Jacobs' negated rushing yards came during the first half of the season, including a 16-yard run against the Jacksonville Jaguars and a 23-yard run against the Tennessee Titans. Jacobs still finished the season with 1,329 rushing yards (sixth most in NFL) and 16 total touchdowns (tied for fifth most) and made the Pro Bowl. Jacobs recently said he wants to create more explosive plays in an effort to go from great to elite in 2025. Could a little better penalty luck help as well? Also featured in Patra's unlucky post: Jordan Love ranked fifth among quarterbacks in passes dropped with 23. Justin Herbert and Baker Mayfield, who both played full 17-game seasons, led the way with 25.
Associated Press
18 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Panthers power play production could be an edge in tight Stanley Cup Final against the Oilers
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Staying out of the penalty box is a good place to start for all the players involved in the Stanley Cup Final. After talking all week about being more disciplined, the Edmonton Oilers were whistled for high-sticking a couple of times and tripping once in the first 16 minutes of Game 4 on Thursday night. Naturally, Matthew Tkachuk scored twice for Florida Panthers, and then a slashing call put the Oilers on the power play and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' goal sparked their comeback that tied the series. 'It's a good series,' Tkachuk said. 'Special teams, both teams' power play seemed to be clicking.' Florida is clicking at a higher rate at 33%, going 7 of 21 with the man advantage, compared with 20% on 4 of 20 for Edmonton. In a final knotted 2-2 that has often been as tight as it can be with three games already decided in overtime, the Panthers' power play production has the potential to be a difference-maker. Until Tkachuk broke through, it had been the second unit of Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Rodrigues and Nate Schmidt doing most of the damage. 'We're building a lot of chemistry playing together,' Verhaeghe said. 'We have so many great players on the unit. Both units have been pretty good. I mean, we just want to move the puck right and get pucks to the net.' The Panthers have five power play goals over the past two games and have scored at least one every night in the final. The Oilers have also cracked Sergei Bobrovsky at least once on the power play each game. Nugent-Hopkins scoring Thursday night could be a sign Connor McDavid and Co. are revving up against what has been a fairly effective Florida penalty kill. Coach Paul Maurice believes that task has gone 'reasonably well.' 'I think they're still going to generate some action,' Maurice said Friday before flying across North America. 'I think the even strength chances are pretty tight through four games.' Ekholm's block Tkachuk almost completed a hat trick in Game 4, and it could have changed the course of the entire series. With the score tied at 3-all late in the second period, he had the puck with a wide-open net to shoot at. Edmonton defenseman Mattias Ekholm got his right skate and leg in front of Tkachuk's shot just in time. 'I didn't even know that the net was empty or anything — I was just in the moment trying to get as big as possible,' Ekholm said. 'It ended up hitting me. It was obviously a big block at the time. I haven't thought too much more about it. It was a block, and sometimes you need those.' Better Barkov? Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov picked up his first two points of the series in Game 4 with assists on Tkachuk's power-play goals. He has none at even strength. Some of that could be connected to how much energy Barkov — a three-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL's best defensive forward — is expending trying to keep McDavid's line and also Leon Draisaitl from scoring. He does not want to use that as an excuse. 'It's tough to say,' Barkov said. 'You need to know, those two guys, where they are on the ice. Of course you're trying to have your head on a swivel, but I think I could be better, for sure.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
