Michigan linebacker Junior Colson just announced his intention to leave school early to declare for the NFL draft, ESPN reported.
Colson, fresh off winning the national championship with Michigan, is ranked as the second-best linebacker prospect in the draft, according to ESPN draft analyst Field Yates.
The 6’3, 247-pound monster was Michigan’s leading tackler and has been described as “the toughest player in the draft.”
Junior Colson might be the toughest player in the entire draft.
He played through two hand injuries in the playoffs, including wearing a club cast over his left hand.
He’s an old school ass kicker at linebacker. https://t.co/RToHspD8u3
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 11, 2024
He broke his hand playing against Purdue in early November and didn’t even come out of the game. He played the rest of the season with the broken hand wrapped up, per ESPN.
His toughness alone isn’t what makes him so special. Colson was an orphan in impoverished Haiti before he was adopted at the age of nine, according to ESPN. (RELATED: Oregon Ducks Head Coach Dan Lanning Releases Epic Video To Shut Down Rumors He Could Replace Nick Saban)
“Just to be able to finish it off strong and go out on a strong note,” Colson told ESPN. “I’ve been talking to family and my coaches the last few weeks about it. I feel it’s time. I’ve played a lot of college football and showed what I could do at a high level. I feel like it’s the right time and opportunity for a little kid from Haiti to go out.”
This is literally what the American dream is about: A kid who was literally orphaned in one of the most dangerous places in the world found his way to America, worked his butt off and is about to pay off big time.
Colson may not be a first-round pick, but he likely won’t fall past the second round. Once he’s in the NFL, I have a feeling he’ll put that motor to use and make some team very happy.