Jim Harbaugh on seeing so many Michigan draft picks: 'It got emotional for me'
Michigan Wolverines football broke program records with seven players picked in the first three rounds and in the top 100 selections of the NFL Draft. The Wolverines had a first-rounder for the sixth straight year, with quarterback J.J. McCarthy being picked No. 10 overall to the Minnesota Vikings.
The six others to be taken in the first two days are defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (No. 49 to the Cincinnati Bengals), defensive back Mike Sainristil (No. 50 to the Washington Commanders), linebacker Junior Colson (No. 69 to the Los Angeles Chargers), running back Blake Corum (No. 83 to the Los Angeles Rams), wide receiver Roman Wilson (No. 84 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers) and offensive lineman Zak Zinter (No. 85 overall to the Cleveland Browns).
Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, of course, added to the total with the 69th pick, taking his former linebacker in Colson. He was proud watching all the picks come in Friday night.
“It got emotional for me,” Harbaugh said. “It really did. The little hairs on the arm were standing up.”
And then, at his press conference, the former Michigan coach showed off the lining of his blazer that featured little U-M logos and his family’s tag line, ‘Who’s got it better than us? Nobody!’
“I’m a Charger, but those are my guys,” Harbaugh said.
“Neat. I love seeing some of the records broken — the amount of guys that were at the combine. The three players in a row, I don’t know if that’s ever been done in the draft. To have seven players picked in the first three rounds, that’s a first for Michigan. Just so many cool things.
“I’m telling ya, it got emotional in a good way for me.”
Junior Colson: ‘He picked me again’
Colson led Michigan in tackles each of the last two seasons, and he was elated to hear Harbaugh’s voice on the other line when receiving the call to inform him he’d be heading to Los Angeles. His former defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, is in the same role with the Chargers and also spoke to Colson on the phone.
“I’m just happy to be back with him. I went to Michigan for a reason, he was that reason,” Colson said. He picked me again. I’m blessed and highly favored, and I can’t wait to get to work for him.”
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Harbaugh and Minter know what they’re getting in the former Michigan linebacker. General manager Joe Hortiz said they didn’t know if Colson would be available at No. 69, but they jumped on the opportunity to take him once he was.
“He has the size, he’s a downhill backer, but he can also go sideline-to-sideline,” Harbaugh said. “He knows the system. A big-time competitor.”
Colson can’t wait to get to work with Harbaugh and Co.
“What part wasn’t great? You know?,” Colson said of playing for Harbaugh. “What part wasn’t great about playing for him? He’s the best coach out there. He’s the best coach to play for, I believe.
“He’s a winner. That’s something that you always want to follow, you want to follow a winner, you want to be with winners. I believe that I’m with a winner right now.
“To be able to play in that same defense, be able to play in his defense, he’s been able to customize and change and create a way to being the number one defense in the country last year. I’m just excited to see where we can continue to grow, and then build with that.”
