Michigan linebacker Junior Colson declared for the NFL draft in the days following the team’s national title victory. Colson, a former top-100 recruit in the 2021 class, led the Wolverines in tackles this season with 95. The Brentwood, Tennessee native played extensively in each of his three seasons in Ann Arbor and recorded 256 total tackles, five pass breakups, and two-and-a-half sacks.
Colson is one of the most attractive NFL prospects on Michigan’s 2023 roster regardless of class. Will Johnson, J.J. McCarthy, and Kenneth Grant might be the first names mentioned, but Colson is not far behind. He is listed on Michigan’s website as standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 247 pounds, which makes him larger than most NFL linebackers in both dimensions. In fact, Colson is almost identical in size to Cowboys edge defender Micah Parsons (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) who was drafted 12th overall in 2021. The player skillsets are vastly different, but Colson physically profiles closer to some edge defenders than linebackers in terms of size.
The first thing that stands out about Colson is his speed and explosiveness. As I just mentioned, he’s large for a linebacker, but that does not restrict his movement at all. He is able to make tackles sideline-to-sideline, blow up screens, and stick with tight ends or running backs in man coverage. He can be used as a QB spy against dual threats and is effective in backside pursuit. Long story short, he is a playmaking threat all over the field and has a nose for the football.
When it comes to coverage, this is where Colson shines. He can reverse direction in zone coverage and twist to make tackles in confined spaces because to his exceptionally fluid hips for his position. His long arms and excellent direction-changing skills enable him to intercept passes and enter throwing lanes. Being long for his height and towering for an off-ball linebacker, he offers a unique chance to cover NFL tight ends one-on-one without giving up a large body in the run game. Up front, football is a numbers game, and Colson’s versatility offers the defense a clear advantage.
The only real downside to his game is his instincts — which aren’t especially bad in the first place. There are times he overruns a gap or gets caught running in the wrong direction, but he also shows the ability to sniff out screens and counters quite effectively. The first coaching point he receives in the NFL will probably be some eye discipline and read-step adjustments, but that should be simple to clean up.
In addition, Colson possesses the unique tenacity that comes with playing middle linebacker. Throughout his Michigan career, he has sustained multiple injuries, but he rarely misses games or sits out because of pain. Fans of Wolverine will likely recall that, due to a broken right hand, No. 25 was forced to play with a large cast for the majority of the season. Many fans are unaware that Colson played the majority of the Ohio State game and the entire postseason with both hands fractured. Simply said, the youngster is tough as nails.
Colson’s slide should be limited to the second round. It’s difficult to envision him as a first-round pick given his poor positional value unless Dallas or Buffalo manage to make a deep playoff run and choose in the late 20s. Tennessee, with an overall score of 38, is the place I would circle. Colson would get to play professionally in his hometown, and the Titans could use an upgrade in the middle of the field. To me, this is a win-win. Colson is probably going to be an NFL starter with long-term effect. He is immediately one of the better linebackers in the NFL since he can routinely complete 100 tackles or more and is a plus in coverage.
