Michigan Football: Post-spring breakdown of linebacker

We continue our look at Michigan football on a position-by-position basis following the spring and here’s our look at the linebackers. 

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Michigan football heading into the 2022 season and one of the biggest reasons is linebacker Junior Colson.

Colson burst onto the scene last season for Michigan football as a freshman and finished with 60 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 0.5 tackles for loss, two passes defended, and a fumble recovery.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder was one of my favorite commitments in the 2021 recruiting class and I’ve been saying for years that Colson will be an early-round draft pick someday. He literally can do it all.

The former wide receiver is an impressive athlete. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown as a high school senior and rarely looked out of place as a true freshman.

Colson is athletic and can cover, he can blitz, and also hold up really well against the run. He’s got closing speed and a nose for the ball you can’t teach.

Michigan will exceed expectations at linebacker in 2022

So when people expressed any sort of pessimism about Michigan football’s linebackers heading into next season, I don’t see it. Even the depth looks pretty solid to me, especially after Kalel Mullings took a step forward this spring.

Nikhai Hill-Green also played a significant amount of snaps last season and had 50 tackles, as well as two tackles for loss. Josh Ross is gone and that should allow Hill-Green and Colson to shine.

Just like last season, Michigan football is likely going to have guys playing some different roles such as Michael Barrett, who has seen time as a nickel LB.

Barrett is a former high school quarterback and while I don’t see him starting, he’s a really good athlete and has been a force on special teams. I like his quickness as a third linebacker and he’s a good complement behind Colson and Hill-Green.

Beyond those three, Kalel Mullings, Jaydon Hood, and freshman Jimmy Rolder could all have an impact next season for the Wolverines. Mullings took a leap in the spring and Hood is another recruit I was really high on, so again, I don’t see depth or a lack of talent as an issue.

Michigan is just fine at linebacker and with Colson doing his thing over the next few years, the Wolverines are going to be better than fine.