Name: Junior Colson
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #25
Last year: Colson was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 59 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries.
TTB Rating: 89
After being adopted out of Haiti, Colson had long been a Michigan fan, so the offer from the Wolverines was an easy one to accept. His picking of the Wolverines was a huge one for the staff, as they needed an impact player at linebacker following the departure of Devin Bush a couple seasons ago and Josh Uche following the 2019 campaign. Colson played a variety of roles in high school, including wide receiver, outside linebacker, middle linebacker, and kick returner. Ravenwood is a strong program in Tennessee, one that also is the home of 2022 Michigan cornerback commit Myles Pollard.
Colson is listed at 6'2" and 230 lbs., and he looks like he runs in the 4.6 range. I think he could play outside linebacker or inside linebacker at Michigan. Reports coming out of practice have been very positive about him, but it's tough to play linebacker as a true freshman. I think he will play a backup role this season, but he could very well step into a starting position in 2022 once someone like Josh Ross departs.
Prediction: Backup linebacker
Is he going to be something like a Will/XBacker, sent into the backfield a lot, like Josh Uche?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that's his long-term future, but it could possibly happen this year. (Uche was a SAM, by the way.)
DeleteI don't know the terminology of this new system, the LB names. I figured I would use a wrong term. I watched a video that was describing the new DCs at Texas defense. A bigger, quick pass rushing type LB, maybe 230 lbs, lines up on the outside d line sometimes, with one hand in the dirt, and just rushes the QB. Colson looks like that type of player. I mean he can do other things. Just saying he seems physical enough to be something like that. That Texas DC runs a 4-3, so his approach and terms are different. At least I think it's a 4-3. Its sort of looks like a 2-5, with 2 very big NT types, and giving LBs all sorts of roles. These new defenses are fun to watch. DCs have to think of new ways to stop these very high scoring offenses.
DeleteEncouraging that Colson has generated early buzz. I suspect he'll be too big to play ILB and will be added the pile on the edge.
ReplyDelete-LANK