NFL draft scouting report on former Michigan linebacker Junior Colson
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.
Speaking of coverage, this is where Colson can set himself apart. His hips are especially fluid for his position and allow him to change direction in zone coverage as well as twist to make tackles in tight spaces. He can change directions very well and has long arms which allow him to break up passes and get in throwing lanes. He’s tall for an off-ball linebacker and long for his height, so he presents a rare opportunity to cover NFL tight ends in one-on-one coverage while not sacrificing a big body in the run game. Football is a numbers game up front, and Colson gives the defense a distinct advantage with his versatility.
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.
Colson also has the patented toughness that comes with being a middle linebacker. There have been numerous occasions in his Michigan career where he was banged up, but it’s rare to see him miss a step or sit out due to pain. Wolverine fans will probably remember seeing No. 25 rock a large cast for most of the latter part of the season which was the result of his right hand being broken. What many fans do not realize is that Colson was actually playing with both hands broken for the entirety of the postseason and most of the Ohio State game. Simply put, the kid is tough as nails.
Colson should drop no lower than the second round. Given his low positional value, it’s tough to see him as a first-round selection unless Dallas or Buffalo end up making a playoff run and picking in the late 20s. The spot that I would circle is Tennessee at 38 overall. The Titans could use an upgrade in the middle of the field and Colson would get to play professionally in his hometown. To me, this is a win-win. Colson is a likely long-term impact starter in the NFL. He can be a routine 100-plus tackler who is a plus in coverage, which instantly makes him one of the better linebackers in the NFL.
