Scouts say Michigan LB Junior Colson 'on the early radar' as potential first-round pick in 2024
Michigan Wolverines football had nine draft picks in 2023, including one first-rounder, and it could have another go in the opening round in 2024. On3’s Matt Zenitz spoke to NFL scouting sources who identified junior linebacker Junior Colson as one on the “early radar” as a first-round possibility.
Colson is one of just two linebackers and 10 defenders on Zenitz’s list of 20 names. Six Big Ten players made the cut.
A 6-foot-2, 235-pound Haiti-born, Tennessee-raised standout, Colson started all 14 games led Michigan with 101 tackles last season, adding 6 stops for loss, 2 sacks, 1 pass breakup and 1 quarterback hurry. The Wolverines finished sixth nationally in total defense and seventh in scoring defense.
“People internally at Michigan love Colson, who led the team last year with 101 tackles,” Zenitz wrote. “Scouts are high on him, too.”
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Colson became a starter in the back half of his freshman season in 2021. That year, he accumulated 49 tackles, 2 pass breakups and a fumble recovery, earning freshman All-America honors by the Maxwell Football Club.
After significantly upping his production from freshman to sophomore year, Colson is looking to make an even bigger impact for Michigan this fall. Now an upperclassman, more responsibility is on his plate, both as a leader and player.
“Next step is to be the best,” Colson said this spring, with a smile. “Next step is to be the best out there. The next step is to be an All-American. The next step is to take my game to a whole new level.
“Understanding our defense, playing MIKE now, I think it gets easier as you’ve been in the system for multiple years.”
Colson has the chance to be the first Michigan defender to record 100 or more tackles in multiple seasons since Jarrett Irons (1994-95-96).
Colson missed the end of Michigan’s spring practices with a minor lower body injury but is expected to return before the season.
Michigan has had nine first-round selections under ninth-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, and Colson would be the 10th if he went that high. He’d be the fifth middle linebacker to be selected during Harbaugh’s tenure, joining Cameron McGrone (fifth round, 2021), Jordan Glasgow (sixth round, 2020), Devin Bush Jr. (first round, 2019) and Ben Gedeon (fourth round, 2017).
