Junior Colson Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Erick W. Rasco/Getty Images)

School: Michigan

Class: Junior

Position: LB

HT: 6’3

WT: 247 lbs

Sideline Prospect Ranking: #50

Background: Junior Colson was a top linebacker in the country for the class of 2021. Colson is from Haiti but moved to Brentwood, Tennessee and attended Ravenwood High School, one of the top programs in the state of Tennessee. He helped Ravenwood reach the Class 6A state championship. In high school, he was both an outstanding outside linebacker as well as a kick returner. He was a 4-star recruit and selected to play in the All-American Bowl. Junior Colson chose Michigan over Auburn, Mississippi State, and Tennessee.

College: Colson started 7 games as a true freshman in 2021 and he appeared in all 14. He was named to the Freshman All-American team. He was easily the best freshman linebacker in the country, taking the Big 10 by storm. He built on that impressive freshman season by having an even better sophomore season. He started in all 14 games and was named an All-Big 10 selection. Colson was, once again, an All-Big 10 selection in 2023 after leading Michigan in tackles.

Strengths: In coverage, Colson displays good instincts as he roams the intermediate areas of the field. As a quick twitch athlete, he is able to bounce around the field quite easily. He has excellent footwork that allows him to take cuts at angle or stay with his man. Colson has natural feel to stay on the inside hips of route runners. His speed and coverage ability make him a tough matchup for any running back or tight end. He takes optimal angles to the football once he sets his eyes on the target in order to make the tackle. In the run game, he puts his foot speed and unmatched strength to use. He knows how to weave between the tackles to wreak havoc in the backfield. He is not easily deceived by double moves and shows very little hesitation when closing in on the ball carrier.

Weaknesses: This lack of hesitation can also come back to bite him as he tends to over commit at times, taking himself too far upfield and out of the play. If Colson does not find his way through the tackles, he has trouble shedding blockers if the lineman gets a strong grip on him. As a longer linebacker, it is expected that Colson is a great tackler, but he has shown an inability to be a reliable option in open space.

Conclusion: Junior Colson has a great amount of potential to be the leader of a defense. A positive contributor in both the run and pass game, he just needs to brush up on certain areas of his game to be an all-around star.

Scheme Fit: Scheme Versatile

Ideal Role: Off Ball LB

Best Team Fits: LAC, PIT, TB

Player Comparison: Bobby Okereke

Player Grade: 83.2