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.
Why Michigan football’s 2021 class is so close-knit and how Colson and McCarthy feel about squaring off against each other on Sept. 25.
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One thing that’s become very apparent about Michigan football’s 2021 class is that it’s very close knit.
Yes, we’ve seen instances like that before — Shane Morris and Michael Ferns’ classes come to mind — but led by five-star pledge J.J. McCarthy, this particular group seems even closer than its predecessors.
We’ve seen McCarthy, Xavier Worthy and Andrel Anthony all be vocal recruiters for the Wolverines since they made their commitments. That’s not Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood four-star linebacker Junior Colson’s style, he says, but when a new member joins the class, they’re treated like family, having joined the brotherhood.
“Our class is very tight,” Colson told WolverinesWire. “We all talk to each other. We all Snap. We all make sure we (check in with) each other, especially during this time, because some of us aren’t playing football.
“That’s kind of our thing – we all talk every day (most) days.”
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But, that said, there will be something of a family struggle come Sept. 25, when McCarthy (and center Greg Crippen)’s IMG Academy travels to Brentwood to take on Ravenwood.
Colson is particularly excited for the matchup because he has yet to meet either future Wolverine in-person just yet — since the NCAA dead period due to coronavirus has meant no welcoming in recruits for events like the BBQ at the Big House, as it usually has.
So when that game comes up, Colson is less thinking about strapping on the helmet as much as he is meeting his future teammates — but, yes, he’s still thinking about strapping on the helmet, of course.
“It’ll be amazing to finally meet both of them,” Colson said. “I think it’ll be a great game, it’ll be a great competition – I love competition. And they’re both great athletes. J.J. – he’s a monster. He can do it all with the ball in his hands. And then Greg at center – he’s a big load.”
But what happens when Colson, who’s asked to frequently blitz as an outside linebacker, finds himself with a potentially open lane on McCarthy? Does he go all-in, or does he hold up a little?
Colson didn’t hesitate in his answer. He’s more concerned with his future at Michigan and the success collectively in Ann Arbor than he is making a highlight at the high school-level.
“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!”
However, speaking with McCarthy on Tuesday for a future installment of the Michigan football commitment series, the five-star quarterback hopes that Colson lays down some wood if he gets that opportunity.
“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.”
Continuing our Michigan football commitment series, 2021 OLB Junior Colson shares that he might not just play VIPER in Ann Arbor.
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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.”
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.”
As part of a new September series, WolverinesWire is talking with Michigan’s 2021 commits. Up first: Junior Colson and why he chose Michigan
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It was late May, and the buzz was palpable.
Despite Don Brown consistently fielding Top 5 defenses — only 2019 saw the Wolverines dip below that to No. 11 — Michigan football didn’t have any commitments ranked as four-stars in the 2021 class. The fanbase was getting antsy. But there was considerable chatter that a big time linebacker from SEC country could make the call to wear maize and blue.
And on May 24, it happened. Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood four-star linebacker Junior Colson chose the Wolverines over offers from Auburn, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida State and hometown Tennessee.
For Colson, Brown leading the charge on defense played a big part. But so, too, did Michigan’s academic reputation.
“A lot went into making this decision,” Colson told WolverinesWire. “I felt like Michigan was the best fit academically, athletically. And I think I can reach my full potential with Coach Don Brown, which allowed me to make the decision very easy to pick Michigan.”
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But the coaching staff as a whole made the decision that much easier for Colson — an outside linebacker in high school, looking to play VIPER in Ann Arbor. It wasn’t just Brown, but also new linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary who helped Colson realize that the University of Michigan was the perfect fit.
However, the building of those relationships between the staff and the nation’s No. 87 player according to Rivals didn’t end once he verbally committed to the Wolverines. It’s continued to grow and blossom into friendships and mentorships that go beyond just football.
“It’s been amazing,” Colson said. “They’ve just become family to me. We’re all very close together, we’re all really tight. We talk all the time – we talk about random stuff.
“It’s been great getting to build that relationship about more than just football. They want to be more than just a football coach – they want to be a part of your life, like family. They (want to) know everything about you.”
When you’re an elite-level recruit, however, until you sign on the dotted line come either early or National Signing Day, you’re going to have other programs looking to whisk you away from your made decision. Such has been the case for the Tennessee standout.
Several programs have done their best to lure him away from Michigan. But Colson is steadfast in his choice.
While he won’t eschew them entirely, he lets them know: he’s going to Michigan, end of story.
“They all keep saying they have until (Signing Day),” Colson said. “Last year, if I ever committed to them, they wouldn’t want me to talk to other coaches. I try to tell them I’m 100% Michigan, but I’m not closing the door because you don’t know what might be in the future. I’m not gonna go their school – I’m 100% committed to Michigan. But you never know where they might end up in the future. They could end up with an NFL team. So you don’t want to close those doors, so I still keep good relationships with them. But also, I don’t give them a false impression — I’m like, ‘No, I’m going to Michigan.’”
The high school senior won’t get a chance to see his preferred school of choice play in person this year, as the Big Ten postponed the season — likely to winter. It’s a decision that still baffles him, as he can’t imagine watching the Wolverines run through that tunnel on fall Saturdays — especially since he’s strapping up for Ravenwood, with one game already under his belt.
While he can’t come to campus and visit the team — due to the NCAA extending the in-person aspect of the recruiting dead period — he’s still getting an eye on what Michigan is doing, as he’s seeing what the team is doing in practice remotely, learning the ins-and-outs of Don Brown’s defense as early as he possibly can.
“I was shocked, because they’ve got one of the biggest divisions of football,” Colson said. “I’m like, ‘The SEC’s playing, how come the Big Ten’s not playing?’ They’ve worked so hard to get to here, so (what’s) stopping them from playing? I’m still in shock they’re not playing, so I’m always like, ‘Maybe they’ll (still) come back soon and play in the next couple weeks.’
“But I’ve watched a couple of their practices. Coach sent me a couple of their practices and I love everything they’re doing.”
The four-star prospective VIPER commit runs a blazing fast 40, despite being a gargantuan human.
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‘Speed in space’ — it’s not just for the offense anymore.
While the 2020 iteration of the Michigan defense may be its fastest yet, with multiple speedy players all across the unit, the team is continuing to recruit prospects that can absolutely fly, regardless of size. Such is the case for the Wolverines’ first four-star pledge on the defensive side of the ball in the 2021 class.
The offensive commits already had prowess of their own, but things didn’t start looking up for Don Brown’s side of the ball until Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood four-star Junior Colson — an inside linebacker expected to play VIPER in Ann Arbor — pledged to the class. Since, the maize and blue have picked up a bevy of four-stars on defense.
But, how quick is Colson? Well, take a look for yourself, as he runs below a 4.6 40-yard dash, despite being 6-foot-3, 228-pounds.
Recruits, staff and media took to social media to react to the Wolverines big commitment.
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Michigan got big news on Sunday afternoon when 2021 Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood four-star linebacker Junior Colson pledged his verbal commitment to the Wolverines.
Colson instantly became Michigan’s highest-rated defensive commit of the 2021 class, having chose the maize and blue over in-state Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss and Oregon. In Ann Arbor, Colson will play the specialized VIPER position, as popularized by his predecessors Jabrill Peppers and Khaleke Hudson in Don Brown’s defense.
A bevy of current commits, recruits, coaching staff and media took to Twitter to react to the news. WolverinesWire compiled the instant reaction for your perusal.
Junior Colson is a former wide receiver, really athletic and really versatile – can rush the passer, outstanding in coverage. Will play the viper position for Michigan and seems like a perfect fit. pic.twitter.com/11JmZafJIK
Despite several SEC powers being in the mix, the four-star LB chose to head up north to play at The Big House.
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There’s been much hand-wringing and consternation from the Michigan fanbase as of late due to the state of recruiting.
While it’s been more solid looking on the offensive side — with five of the six commits on that side of the ball being four-stars or higher — the defense’s six are all three-stars. Nevermind the view of the coaching staff that they’ve gotten the right guys, because with Ohio State pulling in what looks to be a legendary class, the rankings shape the views of many.
Well, some of that skepticism should be met with relief on Sunday, as Michigan pulled in its highest-rated defensive player in 2021 thus far, as Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood four-star linebacker Junior Colson pledged to be a Wolverine, he announced on Twitter.
At 6-foot-2, 228-pounds, Colson is a big get for the maize and blue and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary. He chose Michigan over LSU, Tennessee, Oregon and Ole Miss and also had offers from Auburn, MSU, Oklahoma, Penn State and USC among others.
Rated as the No. 116 player in 2021 via the 247Sports Composite, he’s also the sixth-best outside linebacker in the country and No. 2 player in the state of Tennessee.
A former wide receiver converted to the defensive side of the ball, he has a lot of upside that he’s still discovering, as 247Sports’ Barton Simmons indicated.
Formerly slender, athletic linebacker with length that has already begun the process to add mass to support an in-the-box role on the next level. Former wide receiver that brings that kind of athleticism to the linebacker position. Loose hips and a natural in coverage. Good ball skills. Attractive as a nickel linebacker. Comfortable operating in space as a perimeter tackler. Good athlete that checks the combine testing box. Extremely productive on a one of the best teams in Tennessee. Sure tackler but not ferocious. Nothing jarring about point of attack physicality. More equipped to be an uncovered run and chase defender than a downhill box defender but is starting to evolve in that regard. Has flashed pass rush ability as a blitzer. Athletic traits and physical development points to an eventual Power Five impact starter with the potential to be a mid-to-late round NFL Draft talent.
As Michigan gains its 14th commitment in the 2021 class, it moves from having the No. 10 class to 7, jumping Iowa, Minnesota and Florida in the 247Sports team rankings.
The Wolverines target will make his decision between LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Oregon and the Wolverines.
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The Wolverines are looking to lock up a big time commitment this week, and one that much of the SEC is after.
2021 Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood four-star linebacker Junior Colson is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 128 player in the country, regardless of position. He has offers from ten of the 14 SEC schools, including LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Auburn as well as Oregon, Florida State, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
However, there seems to be a maize and blue flair to his recruitment as he has 100% of the 247Sports Crystal Ball indicating he’ll eventually end up in Ann Arbor.
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But the question is — when? Turns out, not too much longer, as he announced on Twitter that he’ll be making his decision on May 24.
At 6-foot-2, 228-pounds, Colson is a former wide receiver who moved to America from Haiti at just 10 years old, according to 247Sports.
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Should Michigan land him, it would be its highest-rated defensive prospect to join the 2021 class.
New Michigan linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary — the former USF defensive coordinator and Texas recruiting coordinator — is leading the charge in his recruitment for the Wolverines.
