Jim Harbaugh has reunited with several former Michigan Wolverines since becoming the head coach of the LA Chargers. The most notable reunion was with linebacker Junior Colson, whom Harbaugh and the Chargers drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Colson's rookie season did not go as planned. The rookie linebacker had an appendectomy during training camp that put him behind the eight ball. Colson was the put on IR after suffering an ankle injury midway through the season. He only played 32% of the team's defensive snaps in 11 games in limited fashion.
Much like his teammate Daiyan Henley last year, Colson is looking to break out in his sophomore season. Thankfully, the early signs are positive as the former Michigan linebacker looked like a completely new player at Chargers minicamp. Just ask Harbaugh.
"He's back in the place I know him to be. Which is key performance indicators. All 5/5s, all A+'s across the board. He's on a good run, he's gotta stay on that cutting edge, that place," Harbaugh said. "But it's been ascending, arrow up. Back to where he was physically on a consistent basis."
Michigan's Junior Colson is back for the Chargers
Junior Colson showed up like a completely different player at Chargers minicamp: a player he has been before and who Michigan fans are more than familiar with.
Colson was one of the best linebackers in the country during his days in Ann Arbor and there were big expectations around him coming into the NFL. Not only was his talent floor very high, but him reuniting with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter raised his ceiling as well.
MUST-READ: Chargers will break fans' hearts if latest rumor is true
His rookie season was not as productive as he would have liked but that is not that uncommon. Linebacker tends to be one of the least productive rookie positions unless someone is a true blue-chipper coming out of the draft.
Throw in the extra variables of getting his appendix removed alongside an IR stint and it's not hard to see why Colson struggled in his rookie campaign. However, the past is in the past and Colson is in a fantastic position heading into 2025.
If there is anyone who knows how special Colson is when he is firing on all cylinders, it's Harbaugh. This isn't an optimistic head coach who has never seen a player play at his best. This is someone who has seen Colson at his best and also knows exactly how to get even more out of him.
A completely new version of Colson is showing up for the Chargers in 2025. However, this version of Colson is no stranger to Harbaugh or Wolverines fans.