Michigan's Colson Discusses Playing with Broken Hand, Defending Penix, Pursuing National Championship

Wolverine junior survived Haiti earthquake, has story worthy of a novel or movie

Photo Courtesy of Rose Bowl Game

Michigan’s critical sure tackling is demonstrated here by linebacker Junior Colson (No. 25) taking down Alabama’s Justice Haynes (No. 22). Cornerback Josh Wallace (No. 12) is approaching while safety Rod Moore (No. 9) and edge rusher Braiden McGregor (No. 17) lend a hand.

By Steve Kornacki

HOUSTON – Junior Colson shouldn’t be able to be doing what he’s doing.

The Michigan linebacker – who will be front and center Monday night in the national championship game against Washington here at NRG Stadium – has played the last six games with a cast on his broken left hand and “some issues” with a heavily padded right hand.

Yet, he had a game-high 10 tackles in the Rose Bowl win over Alabama and tied his season high with a team-high 11 tackles against Ohio State.

Wolverine defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said: “The thing I love about Junior is his willingness to sacrifice, his willingness to lay it on the line for his teammates, for Michigan, for this program.

“I mean, he won the toughest player award [on the Michigan team]. The guys have seen the stuff that he’s dealt with this year. He’s really athletic, really big [6-foot-3, 247 pounds], really fast, and still is a really sure tackler.”

I got some time alone with Colson during media day here at the George R. Brown Convention Center, and asked him about that “sacrifice” he makes willingly.

“A ‘willingness to sacrifice,’ ” he said, pausing. “I don’t think it’s that. I’m doing this for my seniors and my brothers. So, it’s not like a sacrifice. It’s what they want from me; it’s what they expect from me. And, one thing, I just can’t let them down.

“I go out there every day with that expectation and that mindset. I know they [teammates] are doing everything in their power, and so I’ll reciprocate that by doing everything in my power for them. You know, where I come from, being from Haiti, God’s blessed me with so many opportunities. He does that. So, why not take it and run with it? So, I can’t give up any opportunity.’’

He added that his adopted family has been the greatest influence on his undeniability.

“They were so huge for me,” said Colson.

Colson’s story has been well-documented ever since the personable junior committed to the Wolverines in 2020. He survived an earthquake in Haiti that killed an estimated 300,000 in 2010, and had been living in an orphanage ever since his father died prior to the earthquake – which he actually slept through before awakening to the frightening scenes of destruction.

Steve and Melanie Colson of Brentwood, Tenn., visited the country in 2012 with a church mission group. They met Junior, and ended up adopting him at the urging of their children, Amanda and Josh – who would become Junior’s older sister and brother.

He was a soccer player in his native country and enjoyed swimming. But he discovered football and was a four-star recruit at Brentwood Ravenwood.

Colson chose Michigan, and the Wolverines have gone 39-3 in his three seasons.

When I repeated that record for Colson, he grinned and shouted, “Whew! I don’t like that 3, though. I don’t like that 3. You want those games back.”

What’s it going to take to win that 40th game along with other program-changing classmates such as quarterback J.J. McCarthy, tailback Donovan Edwards, safety Rod Moore and punter Tommy Doman?

“It’s going to take putting everything on the line,” he said. “That’s what our mindset is – the Class of ’21 mindset. We’re going to go out there and put everything on that line – especially now. It’s what you do for 60 minutes, the last 60 minutes, the biggest one.

“What will you do? What will you sacrifice? So, I’m going to be sacrificing for my brothers and putting it all out there on the field. You have to take my cleats off that field. You have to take my body off that field. Everything it takes on that field, I’m ready to give for the glory of God.”

He was asked to describe his emotions after the fourth-down stand secured a 27-20 overtime win over Alabama.

“It was amazing,” said Colson. “But I truly haven’t processed that yet. It was a kind of surreal moment, and when it finally hit, it was like, ‘Holy s---!’ [laughter] Sorry, sorry about saying that. But it was just amazing. We knew what we’d won and what was expected of all of us.

“We did it, and it was like a shell-shock. I was excited because we got over that barrier [of losing the last two national semi-finals]. Now, we’re onto the next one.”

Colson’s 89 tackles are 28 more than anyone else on the team. He was a second team All-Big Ten selection, but won the prestigious national Lott IMPACT Trophy named for Southern Cal College Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott – who also is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s presented to the college defensive player exhibiting the characteristics displayed by Lott, and also was won by Wolverines Jabrill Peppers in 2016 and Aidan Hutchinson in 2021. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.

Photo Courtesy of University of Michigan Photography

Junior Colson has 28 more tackles than any other Wolverine.

‘I feel my hand’s broken, bro.’

Colson was asked about the pain he’s played with – which ties into his tenacity.

“I have a pain tolerance,” he said. “I don't really know because you can never really -- you've got to go out and play ball. Especially once you start playing ball, having fun with it, everything kind of goes to the back of your mind. You just go out there and play.”

He explained the injuries: “I broke the fourth metacarpal in my [left] hand, and the right [hand], some issues there. I broke it Purdue game [Nov. 4] and remained in the game. I'm able to play. I still finished the Purdue game. It was during a tackle. It was more like a big pile.”

He recalled his first words to fellow linebacker and roommate Michael Barrett: “I think my hand is broke.”

Barrett responded in disbelief: “What do you mean?”

Colson said, “I feel my hand's broken, bro.”

Barrett: “You sure? You want to go out?”

Colson: “No, let's finish this drive.”

X-rays taken at halftime confirmed his belief.

Colson said: “It was a clean break, clean snap.”

He asked for a cast.

“So, he just put a big cast on it,” said Colson. “Came out the second half and just played ball. And after that, went and saw the doctor the next day.”

The cast resembles a club.

“It's weird -- especially the first couple of games,” said Colson. “It's weird tackling. You can't wrap around people. It's weird.

“Every type of hit you felt your hand move a little bit. I hope a bone's not broken now. Just playing in it, mostly tried not to focus on it too much. The more you focus on your hand, the more it affects your play. I just had to go out there and, especially during practice, just change the way I tackle and change the way I hit people in certain ways, which has been good for me.

“It's being able to face that. Being able to learn to tackle different ways, being able to learn, especially in season, certain things. I think it's been huge for me for my growth as a player.”

He continued to explain: “Tackling is tackling. I’ve just got to go out there and do my job, and bring my guy down. This brings a bit more violence to my hits, and I’m taking my shots.”

Colson discussed going from defending Alabama redshirt sophomore quarterback Jalen Milroe to 24-year-old Washington quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. – the Heisman Trophy runnerup.

“They’re two very different quarterbacks,” Colson said. “Michael’s a good runner, but Milroe was a great runner. Michael’s a great passer. He’s a great quarterback. He makes all the throws on the field. He’s more level-headed. He’s going to try to drop and try to figure out [things] and get the offense going.”

The Wolverines made sure tackles on Milroe, and that has stood out all season for the nation’s leading scoring defense at 10.2 points allowed per game.

What’s the key to doing that?

“We work every week on our angles -- just the small little details,” said Colson. “Just angles, attacking to the ball, using your leverage, using your teammates. And that's been a great help to us -- especially increasing our tackling this year. We've missed a very minimal amount of tackles this year -- which has been a huge success for our coaching staff and the way they prepare us for the games.”

So, it’s the angles taken to the ballcarrier?

“Yes, sir,” said Colson. “It's the angles, the mindset, all the different things. We have different things that we practice each week -- just angles, making sure [that] if you're second man in, go after the ball; first man in, you've got to secure the guy down.”

The defense has been perhaps the most important element for this No. 1-ranked, 14-0 team. What would one more win for the national championship mean to hm?

“Everything,” he said with a glowing smile. “Winning a national title is everybody's lifelong dream. Especially being a kid from Haiti, to be on that big stage would be surreal. It would be a great moment for me and my family and everybody around me.”

The first national title for the Wolverine football team since 1997 also hangs in the balance. 

“It would mean everything,” said Colson. “It would be amazing. You always remember those champions. It would create a legacy for ourselves, create a legacy for our team. I know a lot of players are excited about it. The team is excited. The fan base, the older guys that's been through here, they're all rooting for us. We're all ready to go out there and play to our best.”

Sacrificing whatever it takes for the ‘W’ that means “everything.”