The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1422614
NOVEMBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 25 Ross himself speaks passionately about the commitment made to the sort of results the Wolverines are seeing. He's been around Michigan football for a long time, watching his older brother's teams, playing now in his fifth year for the Wolverines. There have been near-misses and last year's bottoming out. Many made the commitment to change, and none more than U-M's defensive captains. "Now we're the vets, we're the old guys, we're the leaders," Ross said. "We always communicate together, how we can be the best leaders on this team. We've been through thick and thin together. I'm so fortunate to not only call them my broth- ers, but to call this whole team a brother- hood, because that's what it really is." Ross recalled Hutchinson laying down the law at halftime of the Wisconsin game. The Badgers scored a touchdown just before the break to pull within three, 13-10, and Camp Randall Stadium ap- peared ready to explode. Hutchinson insisted inside the U-M locker room it wasn't going to happen, Ross recalled, in what he described as the best captain's move he's witnessed. "Aidan got up and expressed his feel- ings in front of the whole defense," Ross said. "He let everybody know, we're go- ing to keep playing ball. "He showed his passion. After that, even with us finishing with a rocky end- ing that half, we came out firing on all cylinders. That was due to our leader- ship." Ross' own leadership emerged in fall camp this year. "I remember one incident in camp, where somebody wasn't doing some- thing that would help the team win," he said. "I kind of went off, a little bit. "It's just holding each other account- able as leaders on a daily basis. We're doing that really well." Ross comes by the leadership honestly. He's not threatened to never speak to a teammate again if he doesn't comply (that we know of), but there's no doubt high standards are getting passed on. "Where he is right now has definitely surpassed where I ended up being in my career at Michigan," James Ross as- sured. "Everything he's done, he's kind of followed me, but he's overshot what I've done." ❏ Strong Advice: Follow Josh Ross Michigan freshman linebacker Junior Colson soared off to a flying start on his college football career. He played in every game the first half of the season, col- lecting 21 tackles and making a game-saving fumble recovery. The rookie also took to heart one huge piece of advice. Michigan's defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and linebackers coach George Helow made the formula for success very simple. See No. 12? Do what he does. No. 12, of course, is fifth-year senior linebacker Josh Ross, whom Colson praises endlessly. "He's helped me tremendously," Colson said. "He's a smart dude, and I try to pick up on every little nugget he drops. You'll see me following him around every- where, walking … 'Where you going next?' He's an awesome guy, and he's taken that leadership role to the next level." Colson certainly does not lack physical ability. He's one of the most talented linebackers Michigan has recruited in recent years, and one many expect to grow into a star performer. He doesn't act the part of a prep superstar overly confident about his abilities, though. He's completely open to learning and growing, and that increases his chances to get better quickly, say his coaches. So when they told him to take his cues from Ross, Colson quickly hopped on that train. "I do, I do," Colson said. "I try to follow him. Coach was like, 'Shadow Josh Ross. He does everything right.' So that's what I did during spring ball and fall camp, I just tried to shadow him. All the little moves he does, I'm like, 'I'm going to steal that before you leave. I'm going to take that.' "Coach Mac was very much like, 'Follow Josh Ross.' And Coach Helow has reit- erated: 'Josh Ross does everything right. Following him, you're going to end up in a good place,' and that's my mindset. If I just follow him, I'll be able to pick up little nuggets here and there that will help me in my future. He's been here a long time, and he's done a lot of things, seen a lot of things — the good and the bad — and I'm just going to try to pick up on those little things." Someone asked Colson if Ross ever peers over his shoulder and inquires, "You, again?" Colson laughed and responded: "A little bit. I'm just like, 'You're not getting rid of me.' " It's a testament to both teacher and student. The former has come into his own, the other eager to arrive. — John Borton Ross has racked up 180 tackles in his career, including 11 for loss and 2.5 sacks, seven games into the 2021 campaign. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL