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At 6-foot-3, 228-pounds, 2021 Michigan commit Junior Colson is already a big guy at outside linebacker for Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood.
But he’s got a little speed to go along with that size.
Back in June, Colson ran a clocked 4.6 40-yard dash, a pretty blazing time for a player in the middle of the defense. But he’s not solely a defensive player.
No, Colson — who committed to Michigan on May 24, 2020 — is as versatile of a player as they come, playing running back, kick return and multiple positions on defense. In Ravenwood’s first game of the 2020 season, he took a kick 90 yards, returning it for a touchdown.
“Returning the 90-yard kickoff return, it felt good being back with the ball in my hands,” Colson told WolverinesWire. “It was exhilarating.”
Here is Michigan LB commit Junior Colson (@JuniorColson) taking a kick 90 yards to the crib. What A Monster!!! 😱😱😱 #GoBlue @BuckFitz pic.twitter.com/E15ZB3FjcB
— "EJ Holland" (@EJHolland_TW) August 29, 2020
So, just how versatile is he? While he didn’t share much about his prowess on offense or special teams, Colson did speak on how much he can do on defense, as well as how much of a team player he is.
“I think I can cover like a corner, I can blitz like a D-end, I can play linebacker like a linebacker, I can play safety – strong, weak,” Colson said. “I’ve made sure during the offseason for the last couple years that I’ve just worked on all aspects of my game so I can be a complete player. I can play multiple positions, be more complete. I think that (adds) to the versatility to my game, and I feel like I use that a lot, especially last year. This year, I’m playing more of a JACK position, so I’m blitzing a lot more, I’m rushing a lot more than I would normally do. What our team wants and expects from me is what we need, so I’m stepping up in that role.”
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At Michigan, Colson is expected to play VIPER, the hybrid linebacker/safety position in Don Brown’s defense.
To ask him, it’s a perfect fit, because it’s a position that combines many of his unique skill sets and attributes.
“I think I have a high ceiling, because I just started playing the linebacker position my sophomore year,” Colson said. “I think playing the VIPER position, I could be used a lot of different ways – I could use all my skill sets that I’ve trained and that I’ve worked on. I’m not just set at one position. They can use me in multiple different ways, multiple different formations. Open more to the table for the NFL, for college – for teams to cover.”
That said, will that be the only place that Michigan football fans could see Colson when he arrives on campus? Not if he has anything to say about it.
While Michigan is still in the thick of running back Donovan Edwards’ recruitment, and is the perceived favorite as of this writing, Colson has lobbied the staff to potentially let him also have a crack at the position.
Though his future home is clearly on the defensive side of the ball, could Michigan have yet another primarily defensive player shine on offense? According to Colson, head coach Jim Harbaugh is willing to give him that shot.
“Yes, I have. Coach agreed to it – Coach Harbaugh agreed to it,” Colson said. “He’s like, ‘If you do this, I’ll be able to allow this to happen and all that. I think, hopefully, if I keep doing what I’m doing, keep playing like I’m doing, it’ll happen.”
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