ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Back in 2020, when it came to Michigan football’s recruits, the star offensive player had to line up against the star defensive player in a high school heavyweight match.
Now sophomores in Ann Arbor, in Sept. 2020, J.J. McCarthy, then a five-star recruit, took IMG Academy to Tennessee to play Brentwood Ravenwood, home of four-star linebacker Junior Colson.
In the weeks leading up to the game, Wolverines Wire spoke to Colson, asking how he’d react if he had an open lane to his future quarterback.
“I will definitely hold back on J.J. if there’s a wide-open hit on him!” Colson said. “I’ll pull back – I still need him for college. I wouldn’t want him (to get injured). I’ll definitely pull back if I’m (about to get a big hit on him). But the rest of them, it’s all fair game!”
Spoiler alert: he didn’t.
Here Comes Junior.
2021 All-American Junior Colson (@JuniorColson) sacks fellow All-American and future college teammate JJ McCarthy. #GoBlue 〽️#AllAmericanBowl 🇺🇸
Now, the duo has been on the same sideline for a year now, pulling together, despite being on opposite sides of the ball. So, we needed an update.
Considering Colson has seen McCarthy play dating to their high school days, what’s the same and what’s different about the former five-star? In camp, Colson says that McCarthy is still making ‘wow’ plays, comparing him to the Kansas City Chiefs‘ star quarterback.
“He’s still doing those Patrick Mahomes throws, so you know — it’s awesome,” Colson said. “It’s awesome to see. Right now, he’s having a lot of fun with it. So he’s been comfortable. He’s making a lot of smart reads right now, so that’s the big thing that’s changed. Take the checkdown as well as the deep ball. So I think he’s got a lot of maturity right now.”
At the moment, McCarthy is in a battle for the starting quarterback, as he tries to usurp current starter Cade McNamara. McNamara has an extremely high floor, whereas McCarthy has an apparently limitless ceiling. At the moment, it’s anybody’s guess as to who will win out, should either separate himself during fall camp.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — With all of the talk of Michigan football having a ‘no-star defense,’ there are certainly a few candidates to emerge as veritable stars in 2022.
While all eyes are on Mazi Smith, who landed as the No. 1 ‘freak’ on The Athletic’s ‘freaks’ list, another player is poised to break out. Junior Colson enters his sophomore year after posting an excellent first campaign. He was a freshman All-American and was fourth on the team with 61 tackles — relatively unheard of for a first-year linebacker.
Now that he’s entering his second season, Colson feels much more comfortable this fall camp, having a lot more to offer given that he’s become more acclimated to the defense.
“A lot more confident, a lot more poised in the defense,” Colson said. “I’m just understanding it more, memorizing it some more. I’m understanding concepts — like different coverages, what the O-line’s doing, guys behind me. It’s making the defense lot easier and a lot more fun.”
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We asked if that will allow him to play faster this season, and he simply responded: ‘Yes sir. It allows me be all over the field this year.’ Considering he ran a 4.6 40-yard dash in high school, even at 6-foot-3, 228-pounds, we haven’t yet seen Colson play up to his top football speed.
He’ll have ample opportunities in 2022. With Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo gone, the Wolverines intend to deploy a by-committee pass rush this year. That means Colson, like safety Dax Hill did a year ago, will get to showcase that element of his game.
“Yes, I’m getting more opportunities to rush the quarterback. That’s a part of my game,” Colson said. “I love rushing, I love getting back there. I just gotta keep bringing it. You’ll see me this year.”
“We’ve had some great pass rushers thus far in camp. We’ve just gotta keep building — especially at the linebacker position. We’re just gonna keep bringing it. We didn’t bring a lot last year so this year, so this year we’ve gotta bring a lot of pressure.”
But Colson also wants to become a player who is feared in coverage.
His teammates have said during fall camp that he excels in doing so, taking away the mismatch that a running back or tight end might have on a linebacker. Being adept is one thing — Colson wants more.
The next step for him to add turnovers to the equation, something he’s been working on and feels that, should he accomplish his goals, he can truly be one of the best linebackers in the game.
“You can always improve, you can always improve,” Colson said. “So I want to improve every point of my game. In all aspects, I want to go from good to elite so — I just want to be the best.”
Top three NFL draft-eligible outside linebackers in the Big Ten for 2022 #B1G
It is never too early to talk about the NFL Draft, and one of the most polarizing and fun positions to discuss is the outside linebacker position. It is no secret that Ohio State does not have the strongest linebacking group, but there is still some high-end talent in the Big Ten.
It should not be surprising to see a Wisconsin linebacker top this list as they have a rich history of producing top-notch backers like Leo Chenal, Zack Baun, and T.J. Watt. Michigan looks to have a solid linebacking group as well and a Purdue prospect also makes an appearance. We’ve discussed the schools represented, but now we need to dive into the prospects.
Last year’s matchup against Michigan was a mismatch. How will the Iowa Hawkeyes shape up against the Wolverines in 2022?
Here it is: The first really big test for Iowa this season. The first four games will not be easy—there are no easy games in college football—but, undoubtedly, the Michigan Wolverines are the first big step on the schedule and certainly a game every Hawkeyes fan has circled on their calendar.
Everyone remembers what happened the last time Iowa crossed paths with the Wolverines. It wasn’t pretty for the Hawkeyes at all in the 2021 Big Ten championship game as Michigan routed Iowa, 42-3.
Both teams have a bit of a roster shakeup, especially Michigan with two star defensive ends off to the NFL. As they are nearly every year, Michigan will be as tough as they come in the Big Ten. Here are the players that Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh is counting on to get them back to the College Football Playoff this season.
Just about every year, you can count on at least one, if not more, first-year players coming in and having an instant impact. We saw it in 2016 when Chris Evans came out of the gates in the running backs rotation — and also when Ben Bredeson started at left guard — in 2017 when Donovan Peoples-Jones led the receiving room, in 2019 when Zach Charbonnet started the first game, and in 2020 when Blake Corum and Roman Wilson got involved early and often.
Former Michigan recruiting staff Cooper Petagna, who is now with 247Sports, foresees former five-star Donovan Edwards as an immediate candidate to break out in year one.
He explains:
The former Michigan High School Gatorade Player of the Year joins an experienced Wolverine backfield with returning starter Hassan Haskins and second-year back Blake Corum. Donovan Edwards will have the chance to make his presence known early as he hopes to improve a rushing offense that ranked 95th in the country last season with 131.5 yards per game.
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But he’s not the only one. This time, it’s a player who is not at a skill position.
The Wolverines are thin at the linebacker position this year after a bevy of transfers this offseason. So the maize and blue could be counting on help from first-year linebacker Junior Colson, a former four-star from Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood.
Like Edwards, Colson made the list of potential All-America candidates.
Colson arrived in Ann Arbor in January as an early enrollee for the Wolverines and has impressed quickly, earning a spot in the two-deep by the end of the spring ball. The Nashville area native possesses all the tools to make immediate contributions to the Wolverines this fall, both at the weak side linebacker position and on multiple special teams units. If you’re a Michigan fan and haven’t acquainted yourself with Colson, get used to hearing his name.
To add insult to injury, former Michigan signee Xavier Worthy also made the cut, as the enigmatic wide receiver is expected to do big things at Texas.
Five incoming Michigan football freshmen who have what it takes to make an early impact in 2021.
The Michigan Wolverines made a major splash on national signing day on Wednesday when it flipped two recruits — one from a major rival — and signed three more prospects into the class of 2021.
The maize and blue were in major need of some interior line help on the defensive side of the ball, and as of last month, it appeared that Michigan wouldn’t be getting any help at all. When it was all said and done the Wolverines snagged three defensive-tackles in the likes of George Rooks, Rayshaun Benny — the major get that was previously committed to MSU — and Ikechukwu Iwuannah — the commit who flipped from Colorado. Defensive line coach Shaun Nua and newcomer Ron Bellamy had a huge hand in landing these players.
According to the 247Sports Composite ranking, the Wolverines landed the 10th-best class in the nation, and that was a big win for Michigan after the less-than-stellar season it had.
Now that spring ball is coming up next, we’re going to discuss which five new freshmen will see the most playing time in the fall.
A full roundup of recruiting evaluations, facts, stats, film and everything else covering Michigan football’s signed 2021 class.
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It wasn’t a perfect signing day for Michigan football, as there were a few unhappy surprises, and a big great one — as well as a couple of smaller ones — so it was mostly good for the Wolverines. It took a minute for the letters of intent to start rolling in, but once they did, they came in with regularity.
We scoured the main sites for breakdowns and intel on all of Michigan football’s newest members, including the new bios from the program itself. Here’s everything you need to know about Michigan football’s 2021 recruiting class, in order of their signing.
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Dominick Giudice
Welcome to Michigan, Dominick Giudice ! 〽️ @dom_giudice27 hails from Freehold, New Jersey and played all along the defensive line and offensive tackle in high school.
Prep
• Attended Mater Dei High School (2021) coached by Dino Mangiero
• Helped Mater Dei finish as the state runner-up after reaching the championship game as a junior
• Played all along the defensive line and offensive tackle in high school
• Selected to the Mater Dei Prep All-Decade Team (2010-19) on defense
Key Statistics
• Credited with 46 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks and 42 quarterback pressures as a senior
• Totaled 43 tackles for loss and 24 sacks as a junior – total was No. 1 in New Jersey and ranked 11th nationally
Honors and Rankings
• Earned a 247Sports Composite ranking of three stars; the No. 1,958 overall player nationally, the No. 100 weakside defensive end and the No. 42 player in the state of New Jersey
• Three-star prospect according to 247Sports; the No. 111 defensive end nationally and the No. 43 player in the state of New Jersey
• Rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 179 defensive end and the No. 35 player in the state of New Jersey
• Rivals.com two-star prospect
• First team All-New Jersey Defensive pick by USA Today as a senior
• Named the division’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior; first team defense All-Division selection
• Earned Jersey Sports Zone All-Zone Team as a junior and senior
Personal
• Dominick Giudice was born Sept. 12, 2002
• Son of Anthony and Maryann Giudice
He plays with a relentless motor and has shown improvement with the way he uses his hands. Giudice doesn’t bend all that well, and a clear lack of athleticism prevents him from going higher in my ranking. He also needs to work on his get off. Giudice fits the cliché billing as a lunch pail recruit with a chip on his shoulder. Overall, you’re getting a big, strong, mean kid that lacks athleticism but will be the hardest worker in the room.
Giudice has said that the coaches plan to play him at the anchor position, which I agree matches his skillset the best right now. He doesn’t have the athleticism to be a pure pass rusher on the weakside, but can definitely take on tight ends and clog up running lanes. However, I think that eventually he’ll pack on 20 or 30 more pounds and slide inside to be a three-tech, where his pass rush skills will be more valuable.
2021 Outlook: Giudice is an underrated recruit, but does have some upside. At 6-4, 250 pounds, he has the type of frame and athletic ability that will serve him well at the defensive end position. He’s also been described as a kid who is moving fast at all times, making it difficult for offensive lineman to keep him in check. It’s unlikely that Guidice will become an impact player in year one, but the upside is definitely there for him to become one at some point.
Despite overtures from in-state Tennessee, Michigan football managed to sign Junior Colson on national signing day.
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Ratings
Stars
Overall
Position
State
247Sports
4
100
6
3
Rivals
4
94
5
3
ESPN
4
142
16
3
247Sports Composite
4
95
5
2
Vitals
Hometown
Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood
Projected Position
Outside Linebacker
Height
6-foot-2
Weight
228-pounds
Recruitment
With a significant drought at bringing in high-level defensive players, Colson’s commitment ended that on May 24, 2020, when he chose Michigan over hometown Tennessee.
However, the Vols kept making a significant push even after he pledged with the Wolverines. Ole Miss — led by former Michigan assistant Chris Partridge — also made a late push, but Colson remained solid, and ultimately ended up in the class.
Readiness Level
Michigan has tended to not play true freshmen at VIPER, and with Michael Barrett likely returning, he’s likely a year or two away from being a major contributor.
The Wolverines four-star LB commit shuts down any speculation that he could end up at Tennessee or elsewhere.
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Michigan’s had its share of 2021 commits who have been looked at as potential candidates to flip elsewhere.
Though it’s been some time since the buzz surrounding Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood four-star linebacker Junior Colson and in-state Tennessee was taking place, it looks like that potential dalliance can be put to rest. The Vols were hard after Colson not even a month ago.
There might be some uncertainty regarding head coach Jim Harbaugh and his position with the team entering the final year of his contract on the heels of what appears to be a losing season, but, along with some others recently, Colson took to Twitter to reaffirm that he intends to sign on early signing day and become a Wolverine once and for all.
The Wolverines QB commit is set to make his debut at the high school powerhouse. He shares how he earned the team’s respect.
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On Friday, Sept. 4, for the first time, J.J. McCarthy will be out on the field, leading the prestigious IMG Academy as its starting quarterback in a game.
The longtime Michigan commit transferred this offseason from Nazareth Academy in Illinois, where he was the lone five-star — not just in his high school, but in the state.
Meanwhile, while McCarthy was a big fish in a small pond in La Grange Park (IL), at IMG Academy in Bradenton (FL), despite being a five-star, he isn’t even the top-ranked player on his team. In his class, 2021, he’s one of three five-stars, and there’s another in 2022, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Beyond that, there are 11 Ascenders ranked in the Top247 between the 2021-22 classes, and others — such as fellow Michigan commit Greg Crippen — who are rated four-stars but not in the first 247 spots of the rankings.
So to arrive on campus and take over the most prominent position on the field, it was going to take a little more than cache — though that certainly helps.
The thing about McCarthy, however, is that he’s willing to go in and do the work. The stars mean nothing to him. But, being one of the most visible high school senior quarterbacks in the country, he used that as a starting point to earn the respect of his teammates.
But to fully earn their respect, he was determined to prove that he deserves it.
“It’s one of those things where you come in there – I mean, the rankings do a lot for you,” McCarthy told WolverinesWire. “I came in, they gave me a little respect coming in, and other players respect me for that. But it was what I did once I was there and how down to earth I am. I’m always never above anyone else, so that’s what got me the total respect of my teammates and my coaches.”
At 8 p.m. on Friday evening, as the Ascenders take on the Venice Indians, all of that offseason hard work will finally come to the forefront.
Though all eyes will certainly be on McCarthy and first-year IMG Academy head coach Bobby Acosta, others like fellow five-stars JC Latham (OL, committed to Alabama) and Lovesea Carroll (RB, committed to Georgia) will also look to shine on one of high school football’s brightest stages.
You’d think with so many top-rated players, that egos would rule supreme. But according to McCarthy, it’s quite the opposite. It’s a team rife with hunger, eager to prove themselves.
As McCarthy sees it, despite all the accolades, none of them have truly done anything. Thus, they have to earn whatever is given to them.
“Being around all the talent and five-stars – yeah, there’s a couple players here and there that talk about it – but nobody ever really talks about it, because we’re all focused on one goal and focused on winning week-by-week,” McCarthy said. “We all realize the potential that’s in front of us and the potential within us. We’re not gonna let a couple stars tell where we’re gonna go in life. We all just want to exceed all those expectations, exceed what people are thinking of us right and do so much better. And that kind of brings us all together and makes it really easy to be the quarterback of this team. Because no one looks at me – I can’t say that no one has that same perspective in Illinois, where it’s very uncommon for the five-stars to be in that area.”
Michigan connection
2021 IMG Academy four-star OC Greg Crippen
When McCarthy made his way down to Bradenton this offseason, he was immediately greeted by a familiar face: fellow Michigan commit Greg Crippen, the four-star center.
Crippen has been at IMG Academy for some time, and to have a friendly in his corner was certainly to McCarthy’s advantage. But there’s another advantage: the two can get on the same page now, a full year before they get to work in Ann Arbor.
It’s the second-time we’ve seen an interior offensive line-quarterback combo go from IMG Academy to Michigan, with Cesar Ruiz and Shea Patterson preceding McCarthy and Crippen. But Patterson’s route to Ann Arbor was a little circuitous, with the former five-star spending two years at Ole Miss before transferring to the Wolverines. The intention is for Crippen and McCarthy to have full careers together at the college-level, so building a bond now sets the stage for the immediate future.
And that’s precisely what the duo are doing, McCarthy says.
“Being with Greg for the past month and a half now, almost two, it’s been eye-opening with how similar we are and the type of mold Michigan is trying to bring in,” McCarthy said. “Being with him, we’ve already grown so much together and we’re talking ball together. We’re like best buddies. We’re best friends. He can come to me with anything and I can come to him with anything. He’s the best. He’s the absolute man. I’ve been around a couple people with the same sort of attitude he has. This kid has been at IMG for almost four years and he’s doing everything humanly possible to make sure he improves and gets better to live up to those expectations he has for himself and his team. So just being with him and just understanding his mindset is something that is so beneficial going into Michigan.”
But IMG opens more doors to McCarthy’s future teammates than just those in West Florida.
On Sept. 25, the Ascenders will travel to Brentwood (TN) to take on Ravenwood, home of four-star linebacker Junior Colson, also a Michigan pledge.
The two speak often on social media, but have never met in person. Colson told WolverinesWire that, considering he’s featured in a lot of blitz packages, if he sees an open lane to his future quarterback, he’ll hold up a bit as to not injure his soon-to-be teammate.
McCarthy doesn’t want to hear that. In fact, he wants to know more about the hype — or, rather, he wants to feel why Colson is hyped, from a physical perspective.
“Man, if I don’t feel it when he hits me, I’m gonna be very disappointed in him!” McCarthy said. “As long as he doesn’t go for my legs, I better feel something from him. I wanna know! This is football, this is football – I want him to hit me! I want him to get that and show out.
“Once we get to Michigan and he’s on the defense, he’s gonna be coming. So I want him to get out there and just play ball and whatever he needs to do. But it’s been awesome meeting him, because we’ve been Snapchatting all the time and he just seems like such a great kid and I can’t wait to just meet him and just talk and build that relationship from the start and build it so early that once we go into Michigan, we’ll be buds for life.”
IMG Academy’s Friday night game against Venice can be seen nationally on ESPN U at 8 p.m.
