Tag: Junior Colson

2024 NFL Combine Results: Michigan

Here’s a summary of how Michigan players measured in and performed at the Combine last week:

TE A.J. Barner
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 251
Arm: 33 3/8″
Hand: 9″

OL Karsen Barnhart
Height: 6’4.5″
Weight: 306
Arm: 33 3/8″
Hand: 9 7/8″
40: 5.21
Vertical: 29.5″
5-10-5: 4.7
3-cone: 7.83
Broad jump: 9’3″

LB Mike Barrett
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 233
Arm: 32 1/8″
Hand: 8 1/2″

LB Junior Colson
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 238
Arm: 32 1/2″
Hand: 9 3/8″

RB Blake Corum
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 205
Arm: 28 7/8″
Hand: 9″
40: 4.53
Vertical: 35.5″
5-10-5: 4.12
Bench: 27
3-cone: 6.82

EDGE Jaylen Harrell
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 250
Arm: 33 1/4″
Hand: 9 3/4″
Vertical: 37″
Broad jump: 9’7″

OL La’Darius Henderson
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 309
Arm: 35″
Hand: 10 5/8″
Bench: 20

DL Kris Jenkins
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 299
Arm: 34″
Hand: 9 3/8″
40: 4.91
Vertical: 30″
5-10-5: 4.78
Bench: 29
Broad jump: 9’7″

WR Cornelius Johnson
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 212
Arm: 31 7/8″
Hand: 8 5/8″
40: 4.44
Vertical: 37.5″
Broad jump: 10’7″

OL Trente Jones
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 305
Arm: 33″
Hand: 10 1/8″
40: 5.17
Vertical: 27″
5-10-5: 4.87
3-cone: 7.78
Broad jump: 9’1″

OG Trevor Keegan
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 310
Arm: 32 3/8″
Hand: 10″
40: 5.24
Vertical: 30.5″
Broad jump: 8’11”

QB J.J. McCarthy
Height: 6’2.5″
Weight: 219
Hand: 9″
Arm: 31 5/8″
3-cone drill: 6.82
5-10-5: 4.23

EDGE Braiden McGregor
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 257
Arm: 33 1/8″
Hand: 10″

C Drake Nugent
Height: 6’1.5″
Weight: 298
Arm: 33″
Hand: 9″
40: 5.23
Vertical: 29.5″
5-10-5: 4.5
Bench: 25
3-cone: 7.33
Broad jump: 8.5″

CB Mike Sainristil
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 182
Arm: 30 7/8″
Hand: 8 1/2″
40: 4.47
Vertical: 40″
5-10-5: 4.01
Bench: 14
3-cone: 6.99
Broad jump: 10’11”

CB Josh Wallace
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185
Arm: 31 3/8″
Hand: 8 7/8″
Vertical: 34.5″
5-10-5: 4.35
Bench: 13
Broad jump: 10′

WR Roman Wilson
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185
Arm: 30 3/8″
Hand: 9 3/8″
40: 4.39
Bench: 12

OG Zak Zinter
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 309
Arm: 33 1/2″
Hand: 9 3/8″

18 Michigan Players Participating in 2024 NFL Combine

The following 18 Michigan football players are participating in the 2024 NFL Combine. That’s a record number of players invited to the Combine for any school. They are:

1. QB J.J. McCarthy
2. RB Blake Corum
3. WR Cornelius Johnson
4. WR Roman Wilson
5. TE A.J. Barner
6. OL Karsen Barnhart
7. OL La’Darius Henderson
8. OL Trente Jones
9. OL Trevor Keegan
10. OL Drake Nugent
11. OL Zak Zinter
12. EDGE Jaylen Harrell
13. EDGE Braiden McGregor
14. DT Kris Jenkins, Jr.
15. LB Michael Barrett
16. LB Junior Colson
17. CB Mike Sainristil
18. CB Josh Wallace

Over 300 players were invited to the Combine, and last year 259 players were drafted. So mathematically, not every player invited will end up being selected. But if everyone gets drafted, that would set a record for the most players drafted from a school in one year. The current record is 15, which was set by Georgia.

Former Michigan players TE Erick All (Iowa), QB Joe Milton (Tennessee), and EDGE Eyabi Okie-Anoma (Charlotte) will also be at the Combine, as will former Michigan signee WR Xavier Worthy (Texas).

2023 All-Big Ten Selections

Michigan dominated the all-conference selections in 2023, which is to be somewhat expected with a 12-0 record.

FIRST TEAM
QB J.J. McCarthy (Coaches, Media)
RB Blake Corum (Coaches, Media)
OL La’Darius Henderson (Coaches)
OL Zak Zinter (Coaches, Media)
C Drake Nugent (Coaches, Media)
TE Colston Loveland (Coaches)
DL Mason Graham (Coaches)
DB Will Johnson (Coaches, Media)
DB Mike Sainristil (Media)

SECOND TEAM
WR Roman Wilson (Coaches, Media)
TE Colston Loveland (Media)
OL Karsen Barnhart (Coaches)
OL La’Darius Henderson (Media)
OL Trevor Keegan (Coaches, Media)
DL Kenneth Grant (Coaches)
DL Kris Jenkins, Jr. (Coaches, Media)
LB Junior Colson (Coaches, Media)
DB Mike Sainristil (Coaches)
K James Turner (Coaches)

THIRD TEAM
OL Karsen Barnhart (Media)
DL Mason Graham (Media)
DL Kenneth Grant (Media)
LB Michael Barrett (Coaches)
DB Rod Moore (Coaches)
P Tommy Doman (Media)

HONORABLE MENTION
WR Cornelius Johnson (Media)
TE A.J. Barner (Coaches, Media)
DL Jaylen Harrell (Coaches, Media)
DL Braiden McGregor (Coaches, Media)
DL Derrick Moore (Coaches, Media)
DL Josaiah Stewart (Coaches)
LB Michael Barrett (Media)
DB Rod Moore (Media)
DB Makari Paige (Coaches)
DB Josh Wallace (Coaches, Media)
K James Turner (Media)
P Tommy Doman (Media)
RET Semaj Morgan (Coaches, Media)

I believe every single Michigan starter is represented here except FB/TE Max Bredeson (1 start), OL Trente Jones (2 starts), WR Tyler Morris (2 starts), safety Keon Sabb (4 starts). Even a full-time backup in Derrick Moore – who has yet to start a single game – was named Honorable Mention by both the coaches and the media.

Do you see any snubs?

Personally, I think Mike Sainristil should have been 1st team to both coaches/media. Meanwhile, I’m surprised Barnhart was valued so highly since he struggled in pass protection so much, especially over the last three weeks of the season.

2023 Season Predictions

I feel really good about my predictions for 2023 and I’m nearly certain they’ll all be correct.

LEADING RUSHER
Junior running back Blake Corum had 1,463 yards on the ground in 2022. Unless his surgically repaired knee doesn’t hold up, he’s a good bet to lead the team in rushing again, even with the presence of star running back Donovan Edwards. Edwards should get a lot of rushing attempts and might even top 1,000 yards himself (he had 991 last year), but Corum should still be the #1 guy.
Prediction: Blake Corum, 1400 yards

Hit the jump for the rest of the prognostications.

2023 Season Countdown: #14 Junior Colson

Name: Junior Colson
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 247 lbs.
High school: Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood
Position: Linebacker
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #25
Last year: I ranked Colson #2 and said he would be the starting middle linebacker with 110 tackles and 4 sacks (LINK). He made 101 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 pass breakup, and 1 quarterback hurry.
TTB Rating: 89

Colson had a solid freshman campaign in 2021 followed up by a very good sophomore year. A player with sideline-to-sideline speed, he led the team in tackles with 101. He didn’t necessarily have the one huge “wow” play that might really cement him in Michigan fan’s memories – yet – but he was all over the field on a consistent basis, especially when he seemed to make every stop against Purdue. He ended up with 15 tackles against the Boilermakers alone.

Some people may quibble with my moving Colson down from #2 to #14 in this year’s countdown, but that points toward my having a little more confidence in this year’s linebacker group. Even though Nikhai Hill-Green transferred to Charlotte after sitting out 2022 due to injury, every other linebacker returns with an additional year of experience, plus Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann. Michigan really has three starting linebackers (Colson, Barrett, Hausmann) for two spots, not to mention Jimmy Rolder, who got quite a bit of experience last year. Throw in Micah Pollard and Jaydon Hood, who are both getting some practice buzz, and the Wolverines have a solid group.

Colson should once again be in the running for all-conference and will probably lead the team in tackles, but Michigan finally seems to have some quality depth rather than immediately having to dip into the true freshman – or even redshirt freshman – ranks if there’s an injury.

Prediction: Starting middle linebacker; 90 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception