Junior Colson quickly became a fan favorite during his three seasons in Ann Arbor. As a true freshman in 2021, he appeared in all 14 games and made seven starts at linebacker, accounting for 60 total tackles, 2 passes defended, and a fumble recovery. As a sophomore in 2022, Colson led the Wolverines in tackles with 101, including 6 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks. During his final year at Michigan, Colson once again led the Wolverines in tackles with 95, including 2 tackles for loss and 2 passes defended.
Beyond who he was on the field on Saturdays, Colson’s backstory also made it impossible not to cheer for his success. In fact, Colson is one of the most perfect examples of the “American dream” that you’ll find. Born in Haiti, Junior was living in an orphanage when he first met the person who would eventually become his sister. Amanda Colson was visiting Haiti as part of a mission trip, and that was where she would first meet junior. The two quickly developed a bond, which led to the process of the Colson’s officially adopting Junior in 2012 at the age of nine.
Making the transition from Haiti to Tennessee, Junior – who loved soccer – turned his attention toward playing the game of football in the United States. It quickly became apparent that Colson had the athleticism to play the game at a high-level. With the strong support of his family, Colson would eventually develop into a four-star linebacker prospect who had offers from some of the biggest programs in the country – including Michigan.
As a Wolverine, Colson appeared in 43 games and made 36 starts at linebacker from 2021-23. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection, and recipent of the team’s Roger Zatkoff Award in 2022 (given to the most outstanding linebacker each year). He served as a critical part of one of the most successful stretches in program history, so it didn’t come as much of a surprise when Jim Harbaugh – now the head coach of the Chargers – made sure that Los Angeles selected him in the 3rd round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Over the weekend, Colson shared some photos from minicamp – and it certainly looks like Harbaugh is placing him in a leadership role already. In one particular photo, Colson can be seen addressing the team, as a Jim Harbaugh proudly looks on in the background.
Another photo shows Colson addressing the defense.
And of course, no day as a premier professional athlete is complete without speaking with someone from the media.
It’s been well-documented that there’s no sure thing when it comes to draft picks, and that a high-selection doesn’t always equate to success at the next level. But of all the Wolverines selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, it feels like Colson is near the top of the list of guys who have the best shot at creating a very successful career in the league. Having his former collegiate head coach (Jim Harbaugh), defensive coordinator (Jesse Minter), and strength coach (Ben Herbert), certainly doesn’t hurt either.
