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With a year to develop, Junior Colson could be the starting middle linebacker for the Commanders

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University of Michigan vs University of Washington, 2024 CFP National Championship
Set Number: X164476 TK1

Hogs Haven takes a look at 2024 NFL Draft prospects that could contribute to the Commanders

Junior Colson, LB
School: Michigan | Conference: Big Ten
College Experience: Junior | Age: 21
Height / Weight: 6’2” / 238 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Rounds 2-3

Player Comparison: Nick Bolton

College Statistics

Defense & Fumbles Table
Tackles Def Int Fumbles
Year School Conf Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
*2021 Michigan Big Ten FR LB 14 28 32 60 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 2 1 0
*2022 Michigan Big Ten SO 14 42 59 101 6.0 2.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
*2023 Michigan Big Ten SR LB 15 44 51 95 2.0 0.0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Career Michigan 114 142 256 8.5 2.5 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 0
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/22/2024.

Player Overview

Junior Colson has come a long way to be a 2024 NFL Draft Prospect. He was born in Haiti. Shortly after his father passed away, Colson would find himself in an orphanage run by his uncle for about two years. At nine-years old, he was adopted by a family volunteering in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Colson learned English and football simultaneously. After standing out in high school, he chose to attend his adopted-family’s favorite school: Michigan.

Colson did not waste time impressing his coaches as a true freshman in 2021. He started half of the teams’ game at linebacker that season and was fourth on the team in tackles. It would be the last season he would not lead the team in tackles. In 2022, he hit triple-digits for tackles and was named to the All-Big Ten team. Colson would play every game of the Wolverines’ championship season, despite having both hands broken down the stretch. He ended the season with nearly 100 tackles and All-Big Ten honors for a second year in a row.

Strengths

  • Excellent size to man the middle of the defense
  • Solid scraping along the line to make plays on the edges
  • Unlike many college LBs, willingly takes on blockers
  • Prolific tackler, rarely lets targets out of his grasp
  • Moves well in space with ability to play man or zone coverage

Weaknesses

  • Processing of action at line of scrimmage needs to speed up
  • Occasional false steps make him a tick late to fill gaps
  • Lack of ball production in coverage is slightly concerning
  • Needs more aggression and better technique fighting off blocks
  • A little hip tightness when changing direction quickly

Let’s See His Work

How He Fits on the Commanders

It seems like at the end of each Commanders’ season, linebacker is a position group that needs improvement. Even with Jamin Davis getting better each season, the team needed to bolster the group by adding Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner to have a respectable unit heading into 2024. It looks like the group is only set for next season with Wagner on a one-year deal in the twilight of his career and Davis unlikely to have his fifth-year option picked up by the team.

Junior Colson would be an enticing addition to the linebacker group. He used his physical gifts to be a productive linebacker for the Wolverines. In some aspects of his play, like his physicality and ability to take on blockers, he’s more advanced. If Colson gets better at processing the game and understanding his role in the action, he could play faster and make even more of an impact. Sitting behind Wagner for a year could be a boon for his development. That could make him ready to start at MIKE linebacker for the Commanders in 2025.