Junior Colson endured quite the up-and-down rookie season.

After being selected in third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, an appendectomy in training camp limited the linebacker ahead of the season, as did a midseason stint on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury.

Colson played in just 11 games, starting one, and was never able to get a consistent runway.

But talk to anyone around The Bolt ahead of 2025 — they believe things are trending in an upward direction for the linebacker in Year 2.

"I'm expecting a breakout season," veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman said.

Count Chargers linebacker coach NaVorro Bowman as another person who likes the direction Colson is trending.

Bowman, a former All-Pro linebacker himself, went into more detail about what exactly some of the adjustments Colson has had to make in the jump to the NFL, as well as how it's helped him entering another season.

"I just think Junior was the guy at Michigan and when you come from that, you have expectations for yourself," Bowman said Tuesday. "This is a different business, different type of animal for him and I thought he learned that very fast last year.

"I think his approach this year, whether it's body or on the field, he's heading in the right direction," Bowman added.

Arguably the biggest difference Colson has had to adjust to in the NFL? The speed of the game.

The former All-Pro linebacker acknowledged the speed of the game is much different than it is at the collegiate level for a linebacker and it takes some time to take it all in as a rookie, which is why he believes having a year to process everything could pay big dividends for Colson.

Look no further than Bowman himself, who played under 200 defensive snaps as a rookie, and benefitted from watching and learning in limited action.

"How fast it is," Bowman said. "You can make so many plays in college and the transition to the NFL is just totally different and the speed of the game is totally different. I think he learned that very fast. He's so eager to learn and make plays.

"I enjoyed redshirting in college, I enjoyed watching a lot more than playing my first year and I thought that helped me in college and the NFL, just seeing how things are done," Bowman continued. "Whereas, he was draft in the [third] round, he kind of has to be put into the fire really fast.

"I thought him learning, having those mistakes, having those bumps and bruises, is definitely going to help him this year," Bowman added.

The cause for excitement is not just the learning, however, but also the how Colson has been attacking preparation in the building.

The linebacker's approach has been mentioned, as he has been in the building working all offseason and attacking it in all areas.

It's gotten the attention of both teammates and coaches alike.

"I'm pretty sure last year didn't go the way he wanted it to go with the injuries and everything like that, and he's working also," Perryman said. "He's been in here every day during the offseason."

He later added: "I would say he's locked in. He's been in the building every day, he's here before I am sometimes. He's locked in."

Colson doesn't have to look far to see how one can jump from Year 1 to 2, as he saw fellow linebacker Daiyan Henley do the same last year and turn into a rising star.

While a similar jump would be best case scenario, Bowman said the goal right now is to get him to training camp healthy and have a chance to show out — something he didn't have the chance to do in his rookie season.

"We hope so," Bowman said. "He's done the work, he's been here in the offseason, he's been with Coach [Ben Herbert], he's done the extra. He's dropped a few pounds, which I think he's moving a little bit better and just want to keep him healthy and get him to camp.

"I think that's the best thing for him and have him be 100 percent and really show us his NFL play," Bowman added. "That's our goal as a staff, to really get Junior to camp."

A lot is left to be decided in the linebacker room that remains largely the same as last season, but the opportunity will be there for Colson to make his mark in the lead up to his second season.

"It's no set rotation right now, it's early and we don't have the pads on," Bowman said. "We do have a draft of kind of who we want to be out there, but you never know. Guys come back and show us different, they show us improvement.

"I expect that out of our room," Bowman added. "There's a lot of competition, a lot of guys I feel like can play at a high level, so I look forward to the competition and guys fighting for spot."