Assistant coach reflects on potential of Michigan draftee

Fresh off a College Football Playoff national championship with new Bolts head coach Jim Harbaugh, former University of Michigan Wolverines linebacker Junior Colson is looking to make a splash at the next level. The Bolts selected the 6’2″, 235-pound linebacker with the No. 69 pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Colson was twice selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team during his time with the NCAA and also won the Lott Trophy in 2023.

During an extensive interview with Chargers reporter Hayley Elwood on the team’s YouTube channel, new linebackers coach NaVorro Bowman (himself a former Pro Bowler at the position, having previously played for new LA head coach Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers) commented on Colson’s potential in the NFL.

Since Colson is very familiar with the tactics of new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Bowman acknowledged that Colson has already made an important contribution to team training.

“It’s helpful just to have him in the room and fill the silence. If you ask the question, Junior will be the first to answer, and that’s not what we’re worried about with Junior’s Playbook. We want to teach him how to be a pro and show him some things that you can kind of get away with in college but you don’t really get away with in the NFL. So that’s the learning curve with him. But having him in the system and having him be able to help other guys and relay messages from another voice, and not always just a coach, I think is very beneficial for us.”

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