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Jim Harbaugh reunites with Michigan Football star as Los Angeles Chargers make their third round pick

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Travis May | Last updated 4/26/24

The Los Angeles Chargers finally let Jim Harbaugh reunite with a former Michigan Football star in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Junior Colson, LB Michigan was the team's selection at the 69th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The relationship with Jim Harbaugh and linebacker Junior Colson goes back to the summer of 2019 before Colson was even a junior in high school, playing football in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee. Five years later the two get to continue their time together as coach and player in the NFL.

#Chargers select Michigan LB Junior Colson, with the 69th overall pick in the #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Vf7goEA3hv
— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) April 27, 2024

Junior Colson, LB Michigan

Colson has been a special linebacker prospect for a very long time. He first appeared on all the major recruiting sites back in the spring of 2019 when he was still just a sophomore in high school. He showed flashes in early high school, but started gaining national attention after he racked up 175 tackles and 14 sacks in a season as a junior in high school.

Once at Michigan he immediately stepped onto the field in a significant role, playing over 500 snaps as a true freshman for the Wolverines. After a few key defensive players departed after 2021 Colson stepped up as the leader of the defense, logging nearly 1400 snaps over the next two seasons.

Last season Colson allowed just barely more than seven yards per reception in coverage, added more than a dozen pass rush pressures, and tallied over 100 total tackles for the second year in a row. His elite instincts, speed, and consistent tackling ability make him a special player who should be able to play every down from day one in the NFL.

Junior Colson fit with the Chargers

The Chargers desperately needed a foundational linebacker of the future to step up this year and it looks like they've found their man. The team let Kenneth Murray walk via free agency, so there was a huge hole to be filled at the linebacker spot.

The Chargers also likely rotate in Daiyan Henley and Denzel Perryman, but Junior Colson should wear the green dot on his helmet as early as the start of training camp for Los Angeles. Expect a potential Defensive Rookie of the Year kind of season in year one given his athletic upside and every down ability.

Be looking for more Los Angeles Chargers and Michigan Football coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

And if you want to watch some Junior Colson highlights to get pumped for his NFL future with the Los Angeles Chargers just check out the video below!