Junior Colson has seen the field a great deal in his three years as a Michigan Wolverine, and he’s played in numerous big games.
From his three appearances (and three wins) vs. Ohio State, the College Football Playoff semifinals and the national championship game, there are numerous options to choose from when it comes to picking his favorite ever game where he wore a winged helmet.
Given the emotional ties to playing the rival Buckeyes, one would think that Colson would chose one of the three wins against OSU as his favorite game that he played in, but when asked at the NFL combine which one sticks out the most of his 43 career experiences, it was something else entirely: this past year’s Rose Bowl win over Alabama.
“The game sticking out is probably Bama,” Colson said. “I think just the atmosphere and just being in that and the Rose Bowl atmosphere just elevates everything. To be able to play in that game was phenomenal, something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”
Perhaps that’s not too surprising given the gravitas of that game. It propelled Michigan to the national championship, which it won a week later. It was officially getting over the hump. But it’s still somewhat surprising given the onus placed on Ohio State every single day in Ann Arbor.
Colson also feels that that game against the Crimson Tide was a good highlight reel, a game where he was able to show what he could do. But he really thinks back fondly on the famed setting in Pasadena set in front of a majestic backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountain Range. And because of that, his performance on Jan. 1, 2024 will stand out as his most cherished memory wearing maize and blue.
“Oh, yeah, it was able to show off everything,” Colson said. “You know, they are a great team. So it was it was a great battle against somebody — just like playing the atmosphere (it) just like, elevated everybody’s game to a whole new level. And it was something worthwhile to see.”