Junior Colson Speaks On Alabama Hiring Former Michigan Football LB Coach

Michigan might find it a little odd on the timing of George Helow joining Alabama's coaching staff.

There were some raised eyes when it was announced that Nick Saban and Alabama were set to hire George Helow to an unspecified role with the Crimson Tide.

The news came within weeks of Alabama squaring off with Michigan in the Rose Bowl during the first round of the College Football Playoff. Saban hired Helow -- who's last job came with Michigan where he coached the linebackers in 2021 and 2022. 

Jim Harbaugh sought to bring back Chris Partridge as the linebackers coach this season -- which ultimately didn't work out in the end. But once Partridge came back to Ann Arbor, Helow was left without a job. 

Now returning to the collegiate game, Helow's first game back will be against his old school and he will be coaching against very familiar faces. One of those faces is junior linebacker Junior Colson. 

Colson played under Helow during his first two years in Ann Arbor. Colson joked the hiring of Alabama shows Bama might be scared of the Wolverines -- needing to bring someone in who knows the defense. But the sure-tackler said he's happy for his old coach. 

“Mike (Barrett) sent it to me, then Ernest (Hausmann)," Colson said on Monday. "But just different. Just different — it’s like, they might be a little scared. But you never know. But he’s got a job, I’m happy for him. I’m excited for him. I’m happy — I’ll probably say what’s up to him after the game. So just you just gotta go out there and play ball.”

Does Alabama have a competitive advantage over Michigan now that Helow is with Alabama? Colson doesn't believe so. It's safe to assume Michigan has changed things up from when Helow was in Ann Arbor -- like its signals. He believes Alabama will have to defend the Wolverines' defense even if Helow might know a little of what's going on. 

“You can’t really have an advantage in football,” Colson said. “It doesn’t matter if you know somebody’s whole playbook, you’ve still gotta stop it. So you can’t really have an advantage in football. You’ve gotta go out there, play ball, and let the dice roll how it rolls.”

Michigan and Alabama will face on Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ET.