Two casts, no problem for linebacker Junior Colson ahead of Rose Bowl

ANN ARBOR, Michigan: Linebacker Junior Colson had a dilemma as the Michigan football team celebrated winning its third straight Big Ten Championship on December 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium under a shower of blue and yellow confetti.

As his teammates relished in the rare three-peat of Big Ten supremacy — it was the Wolverines’ first three-peat since 1992, and first time winning three straight outright titles ever — many of them took to holding up three fingers for photographers.

But Colson, Michigan’s starting middle linebacker and leading tackler this season, had just played a second straight game with protective casts on both hands.

It was arguably the only thing he hasn’t been able to do the last month or so. Colson first began wearing a protective cast in Michigan’s game against Penn State Nov. 11, then added a second one against Ohio State Nov. 25. He has a team-leading 30 tackles in the last four games, including 19 in the last two weeks.

According to Colson, he’ll likely be donning the clubs again in the Rose Bowl as Michigan takes on No. 4 Alabama. But based on his play with them against the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes, two casts will be no problem for the junior, who understandably won the team’s Toughest Player of the Year award as voted by Michigan players.

“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,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said this week. “He won the toughest player award. The guys have seen the stuff that he’s dealt with this year. I think he’s really athletic, really big, really fast and has still stayed as a really sure tackler. I’m excited to see him go out there and have a chance to play against these guys.

Colson will be responsible for quarterbacking Michigan’s overall defensive strategy and controlling Milroe’s running and throwing ability. Colson wouldn’t approach the game any differently on defense, even though he could struggle to hold up how many straight Big Ten crowns Michigan has won, shed blocks, or seize offensive players.

It is, of course, still a loss for the Wolverines, and their opponent this time around is maybe Michigan’s strongest defensive opponent of the year. Michigan hasn’t yet faced a real dual-threat quarterback like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, despite facing mobility quarterbacks and quarterbacks with deep passing ability. In 12 games this season, the redshirt sophomore has ran for 468 yards and 12 touchdowns in addition to throwing for 2,718 yards and 23 touchdowns.It is, of course, still a loss for the Wolverines, and their opponent this time around is maybe Michigan’s strongest defensive opponent of the year. Michigan hasn’t yet faced a real dual-threat quarterback like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, despite facing mobility quarterbacks and quarterbacks with deep passing ability. In 12 games this season, the redshirt sophomore has ran for 468 yards and 12 touchdowns in addition to throwing for 2,718 yards and 23 touchdowns.