Los Angeles Chargers select Michigan LB Junior Colson in third round of 2024 NFL Draft

The wait at the 2024 NFL Draft is over for former Michigan linebacker Junior Colson. And as one of the top linebackers on the board, the Los Angeles Chargers were ready to pull the trigger and take him with the No. 69 pick.

A three-year player for the Wolverines, Colson developed into a steady off-ball linebacker presence in the middle of the defense. Across three seasons in Ann Arbor — all with a Big Ten title and a trip to the College Football Playoff — Colson played in all 43 possible games. That included playing with a pair of broken hands at the end of Michigan’s national championship season in 2023.

Colson was a freshman All-American in 2021 and earned All-Big Ten second team status in 2022 and 2023, leading the Wolverines in tackles both years.

At 6-foot-2, 238 pounds at the combine, Colson brings plenty of size to the position. And while his athleticism isn’t game-breaking, Colson is plenty fast and explosive enough to hang in coverage against running backs and the occasional tight end. His all-around blend of ability and game-readiness out of the box had Colson as one of the top linebackers on most draft boards in a thin class.

Colson played high school football at Ravenwood (Tenn.) High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 91 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Colson was born in Haiti and moved into an orphanage at a young age when his father died, eventually getting adopted by an American couple after the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Colson

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein is bullish on Colson, but recognizes a few warts to his game. Most of the improvement can come from the mental aspect of the game getting honed for Colson, who started playing football later than many of his peers.

“Inside linebacker with an excellent combination of size and strength to take on blocks and patrol the action from the second level,” Zierlein said. “Colson’s upper-body strength and body control stand out when battling blocks or finishing tackles. He has adequate sideline-to-sideline range but needs to play with faster recognition to keep from getting trapped by climbing blocks. He doesn’t play with a trigger-happy, downhill mindset, so he misses out on playmaking opportunities. Colson is a tough guy with good stopping power and can handle himself in coverage. He projects as a good three-down linebacker, but improving block recognition and taking a few more chances could elevate him into the next tier at the position.”