ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When it was suggested by coaches to Michigan freshman linebacker Junior Colson that he follow what veteran Josh Ross does on and off the field, Colson embraced the assignment.
Colson began to follow Ross. As in, right on his heels.
“That’s what I did during spring ball and fall camp, I just tried to shadow him,” Colson said Monday. “All the little moves he does, I’m like, ‘I’m gonna steal that before you leave. I’m gonna take that.’”
Michigan, ranked No. 8, is 6-0 (3-0 Big Ten) and coming off back-to-back road wins. The Wolverines are off on Saturday before returning to play Oct. 23 against Northwestern at Michigan Stadium.
This does not mean it’s a time for the players to take a rest, though. For someone like Colson, a freshman who already has made significant contributions — he is tied for fifth in tackles with 20, and played 27 snaps in last week’s game at Nebraska — this is another week to focus on improvement with a much tougher six-game schedule ahead.
That the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Colson, who was a four-star recruit out of Ravenwood High in Tennessee, has received significant playing time isn’t all that surprising.
“I had hoped I would be able to play early,” Colson said. “I just want to help in any way I can. I’m happy they put me into this position to be able to thrive, just be a leader.”
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh revamped his defensive staff in the offseason, fired coordinator Don Brown, and hired Mike Macdonald to coordinate the defense, and George Helow to coach linebackers. Colson was recruited to potentially play the viper, a safety/linebacker hybrid position in Brown’s defense.
Under Macdonald’s watch, Colson is playing inside linebacker.
“I’m liking it,” Colson said. “They put me in the right position to succeed.”
And it didn’t take much of a sell job from the coaching staff.
“Even if they put me at corner, I’ll be OK,” Colson said, laughing. “It would be different, but OK, I’ll do it, just as long as I’m able to contribute in any way.”
He has become a major contributor as a freshman, and Helow couldn’t be more pleased.
“Junior has been doing everything that we ask him to do,” Helow said recently. “Of course he’s got the size, the speed, the athletic ability. It’s not easy for a true freshman to go in and play the volume of snaps that he’s been playing.
“But Junior’s not a flincher. When he goes out there, he executes, he plays very hard. He’s another guy that, pleased with how he’s coming along. Expect good things to keep happening with Junior.”
In Michigan’s slim, 20-13 win over Rutgers in the Big Ten opener, Colson recovered a fumble forced by David Ojabo that preserved the team’s unbeaten record. Heady stuff for a freshman playing in his fourth game.
“It was a surreal moment,” he said. “I was happy I was in the right place at the right time to help my teammates.”
Macdonald was the first to tell Colson to shadow Ross. Helow then made the same suggestion. Ross was a freshman in 2017 and has become a two-time captain. He leads the team with 40 tackles and that’s including missing the second half of the Rutgers game because of injury.
Ross’ discipline as a player and attention to detail are what the coaches want Colson to study.
“(Helow) reiterates that, ‘Josh Ross does everything right, so just following him, you’re going to end up in a good place,’ so that’s kind of like my mindset,” Colson said. “If I follow him, I’ll be able to pick up a couple little nuggets here and there that will help me throughout my future, because he’s been there a long time. He’s does a lot, he’s seen a lot. He’s seen the good and the bad, and I’m going to try to pick up all those little things.”
Ross takes a step, Colson is behind him. It might not be quite like that all the time, but it’s close.
“You just see me following him around everywhere he’s walking, “Where you going next?’” Colson said, laughing. “He’s an awesome guy, and he’s taken that leadership role to a next level.”
Does Ross ever look ever his shoulder, see Colson and say, “Oh, you again?”
“I’m just like, ‘I’m right here. You’re not getting rid of me right now,’” Colson said, laughing again. “It’s been pretty fun.”
