NEWPORT BEACH, CA – 2023 Lott IMPACT® Trophy winner Junior Colson’s family will partake in an on field trophy presentation in the first quarter of the Michigan vs USC game on Saturday in Ann Arbor. The award will be presented by Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, along with members of the Pacific Club IMPACT® Foundation Board of Directors.
Colson was the twentieth winner of the Lott IMPACT® Trophy, which was awarded this past December. The former Michigan linebacker was the anchor of the Wolverines defense on their national championship team. Colson was the team’s leading tackler with 95, 30 more than the next closest teammate, to go with 2.0 tackles for a loss, two passes broken up, and two quarterback huYearries.
Originally from Haiti, Colson moved to the United States in 2012, after being adopted from an orphanage. Melanie and Amanda Colson, Junior’s mother and sister, traveled to Haiti in the wake of a devastating earthquake in 2010. Melanie and her husband Steve then adopted Junior. Colson would become fluent in English within nine months and fluent in football shortly thereafter, thanks to some help from his new brother, Josh. Colson aspires to return to his home country at some point to build an orphanage for children in situations like the one he was in.
Colson was selected by the Chargers in the 3rd round of the 2024 NFL Draft, reuniting with head coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles is 2-0 to begin the season and will face the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
The Lott IMPACT® Trophy is awarded annually to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of athletics and recognizes college football’s Defensive Player of the Year who best exemplifies the IMPACT acronym: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
The mission of The Pacific Club IMPACT® Foundation is to recognize and support both national and local charities that serve the youth of America with a focus on education and have a positive IMPACT® on the lives of young men and women.