‘Tough’ linebacker Junior Colson is a Charger

COSTA MESA – Linebacker Junior Colson is an impact player. He has speed. He’s not shy about delivering hard hits. More importantly, Colson has the confidence to be the player to solve the linebacking woes of the Los Angeles Chargers.  

“I think that I’m bringing a lot to the Chargers with my skillset,” Colson said during a Zoom call with reporters. “I’m bringing my ferocity, the way that I play the game, the way that I attack each and every day. I’m just ready to go out there and dominate.”

Michigan ?? LA#ProBlue | @JuniorColson pic.twitter.com/UtMvTM3cPB

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 27, 2024

Jim Harbaugh is familiar with Colson’s prowess as a defender. Harbaugh coached Colson at Michigan. He’ll have the opportunity to coach Colson again after the Chargers drafted the former Wolverine in the third round with the 69th picked overall.    

During his NFL Draft Day 2 press conference, Harbaugh says Colson can do everything as a defensive playmaker. 

“He checks every box,” Harbaugh said. “Our scouts, along with Joe [Hortiz] and [Linebackers Coach] NaVorro Bowman, who has played in this league for a long time, had him as the top inside linebacker in the draft. He has the size, he’s a downhill backer, but he can also go sideline-to-sideline. He knows the system.” 

“A big-time competitor… All of the things — size, speed, athleticism. Instincts, that would probably be the number one thing for an off-the-ball linebacker that plays inside. Tough. I would tell the guys on the team here that here comes another big-time competitor. Competitors welcomed,” he added. 

By playing already in Harbaugh’s system, Colson should fit in well with the Chargers defensive scheme. 

“I believe that I fit into that very easily and very, very well,” Colson said. “I think that I’m that guy in the middle that they’ve been looking for, that guy that can run the defense and call the plays. It’s very similar, we ran the exact same defense back in college. It’s going to be very easy to get in and get to work.”

Colson also believes that knowing the Harbaugh playbook gives him a leg up on the competition.  

“I’m very excited. It just gives you that edge, gives you that thing to go out there and grind,” Colson remarked. “Be able to compete for a starting spot right away from Day 1, I’m just excited for it, I’m ready for it. I’m just ready to go out there and compete.”

The focus of the 2024 NFL Draft for the Chargers is staying true to the vision of Harbaugh and addressing the team’s immediate needs. 

With their first three picks of the draft, the Chargers followed that formula. The Chargers grabbed an offensive lineman, a wide receiver and a playmaking linebacker. The Chargers picked up Notre Dame’s Joe Alt with the No. 5 overall selection. The team then grabbed Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey in the second round before adding Colson in the next round.  

“It was a good Day 2 for us,” Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said. “We’re excited to add both [WR] Ladd [McConkey] and [LB] Junior [Colson]. Two players that we think are outstanding players, outstanding people, high-level competitors. They’re highly-productive, smart, tough football players. They’re just going to make us better. Really excited about both of them and look forward to seeing them here.”

Colson graded out to be a second-round pick but slid down the ladder a bit to the third round. His combine profile, which tagged him as a three-down player, graded him to be the fourth-best linebacker. 

“We were excited that he was there,” Hortiz said. “We thought that there would be a chance. The position itself is a little undervalued on draft day, so we kind of thought that, maybe, there’s a chance. But, percentages, I can’t say that it was a high percentage that we thought that he would be there. I was hoping that he would be there, our scouts were hoping that he would be there. I know that coach was hoping that he would be there.”

michigan made

welcome to LA, @juniorcolson pic.twitter.com/vuaupbHbxl

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) April 27, 2024

Colson is expected to step in and fill in the Chargers’ linebacker hole created when Kenneth Murray Jr. departed by way of free agency and when the team released Eric Kendricks. The Chargers have since signed former Charger Denzel Perryman for one linebacker spot. 

Colson was one of the mainstays on a Michigan team that went undefeated and helped the Wolverines win the college football national championship under Harbaugh. Obviously, happy to be reunited with his college football coach, Colson said “everything” excites him about playing for Harbaugh again.   

“I’m just happy to be back with him,” Colson said. “I went to Michigan for a reason, he was that reason. He picked me again. I’m blessed and highly favored, and I can’t wait to get to work for him.”