Michigan Football Camp Report - LB Junior Colson | By Fans...For Fans Since 1999 | UMGOBLUE.COM Michigan Wolverine Football & Basketball

8/12/22 Player Availability

Q:
Who were a couple players on both sides of the ball that didn’t play much last year that you think at the end of the day we’ll be talking?

Colson:
Makari Paige on defense he’s he’s been phenomenal all camp and he just keeps bringing it so I think he’s going to be phenomenal. On offense Andrel Anthony he’s gonna eat…JJ, Donovan too, he’s been doing his thing. You’ve seen him.

Q:
How does this year different for you going into your second year having had that experience?

Colson:
A lot more confident…a lot more poise and the defense and I think I’m just understanding it more instead of like memorizing, I’m understanding concepts like different coverages what what the o line is doing what the guys behind me are doing. So it’s making the defense lot easier, a lot more fun.

Q:
You feel like that allows you to be able to play a lot faster this year than last year?

Colson:
Yes, sir. It allows me to just be all over the field this year.

Q:
Are you getting more opportunities to rush the quarterback this year, is that something you’d like to do? Is that part of your game?

Colson:
Yes, I’m getting more opportunities to rush the quarterback and that’s a big part of my game. I love rushing, I love getting back there so I just gotta keep bringing it now you see me this year.

Q:
Pass rush by committee- do you feel like that that’s come together for you guys so far in camp?

Colson:
Yes, sir. I think I mean, we had some great pass rushers so far in camp. I think it’s just gonna keep building, especially at the linebacker position where we’re gonna keep bringing it. We didn’t bring a lot last year so this year, you got to bring a lot of pressure.

Q:
You mentioned Donovan, but what about Blake? He looks like he’s bulked up- how hard is he to handle?

Colson:
Blake’s phenomenal, you can tell the new weight he’s put on, he’s moving better, he’s moving faster. Everything he’s able to take on his people, you know? He’s been phenomenal so far.

Q:
You played against JJ back in high school, how different or similar does he look compared to when you played against him?

Colson:
He’s still doing those Patrick Mahomes throws. So you know, it’s awesome to see. I think he’s having a lot of fun with it, so he’s being comfortable. He’s making a lot of smart reads right now so that’s the big thing, he’s able to take the check down…He’s got a lot of maturity right now.

He’s still doing those Patrick Mahomes throws…it’s awesome to see. I think he’s having a lot of fun with it, so he’s being comfortable. He’s making a lot of smart reads right now so that’s the big thing.
Junior Colson on QB JJ McCarthy

Q:
You guys were able to create turnovers in some key spots last year but Coach Clinkscale said not really enough of them. Do you think that’s just luck, or being in the right position to create the turnover?

Colson:
A little bit of both, we just got to be in the right position, we just got to attack the football more, you know, throughout camp and throughout the season. So that’s the big thing we had last year was always attack the football…So that’s what we’ve been trying to work on, you know, get everybody to the ball, back side, front side, get to the ball, first guy hold him up, second guy get the ball out.

Q:
As far as yourself individually is there anything that you particularly are you trying to do to improve that part of your game?

Colson:
You can always improve…I want to improve every part of my game in all aspects, I want to go from good to elite. I want to be the best.

Q:
There were some times last year where some of the guys in the secondary said that David and Aiden were their best friends because it reduced the amount of time that they had to cover with those guys getting to the quarterback. If the pass rush takes a couple of weeks to settle in this season. How do you think the back seven would do if they have to cover for long periods of time?

2022 Fall Michigan Football Roster Download

Colson:
Phenomenal, phenomenal, our back seven’s elite….especially both corners. They are dominant, DJ- dude is locked down and Gemon too…At safety RJ is just phenomenal and Makari, Rod all them of you know. So I think that’s one of the biggest things they worked on is being able to cover a dude and like when the quarterback starts scrambling keep on you man…I think it’s gonna be a big part of our game this year

Q:
We haven’t heard much about Jaydon Hood this offseason, how do you feel like he’s doing?

Colson:
He’s coming along, you know, just everything is just coming together for him. So everything’s coming together. So he just gotta keep bringing it…whenever he gets his opportunity he’s gotta take it.

Q:
Kalel has been working a little bit with running backs. How weird is it to see him there? Is he a natural fit there?

Colson:
Yeah, dude is a freak of an athlete. He’s really good. So you know, he’s able to play both sides. He’s super smart. He’s been very natural transitioning back and forth and has been doing a really good job at both spots right now.

Dude is a freak of an athlete. He’s really good…He’s been very natural transitioning back and forth and has been doing a really good job at both spots right now.
Junior Colson on Kalel Mullings switching between LB and RB

Q:
You played running back in high school. I remember talking to you, when you were in high school saying that you were lobbying to also play running back? Do you still lobby for that at all? You get jealous watching Kalel doing that?

Colson:
There’s no jealousy around here. But I do want to do want to play a little bit of running back every now and then…This year is a big year for me on defense. So hopefully next year, we’ll see you see how it all shakes out.

Q:
I know you weren’t here two years ago, but Mike Barrett played a really prominent role in the last year with Don Brown and then last year, his snaps on defense were kind of minimized and he played mostly on special teams. You could have left after last year he decides to come back I guess what have you kind of observed from him as his career has kind of gone up and down with different roles.

Colson:
He’s very mature….I think dude is a phenomenal player. You’re gonna see him a lot this year. He’s made big strides, made big steps, especially in a new defense, he’s understanding the concepts dude’s man-to-man coverage is elite. So yeah, watch out for him. You’re gonna see him first game.

Q:
We don’t talk about special teams that much. What is the mentality, the approach to playing special teams? And why do some guys seem to love it more than others?

Colson:
Special teams is the same thing as playing offense and defense, you know, it’s the same mentality when you go out there, you know, that’s one you need to win. If you win on special teams most times you’re gonna win the game. So everybody wants to play on special teams, you know, on all phases and Coach Jay makes it really fun to play on there. He just shows you a lot of things you do on special teams you’re gonna be able to do on offense and defense so it’s a lot of fun.

Edits made for clarity.