2024 NFL Draft prospects Junior Colson and Graham Barton have a really cool connection

As the 2024 NFL Draft is about to get underway, it’s always interesting to see which prospects have unique connections with each other.

For former Michigan linebacker Junior Colson and former Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton, their connection goes all the way back to Brentwood, Tennessee.

The two were high school teammates for a time at Ravenwood High School, part of Williamson County’s excellent prep football scene.

Barton graduated in 2020 and joined Duke to forge his likely first-round bona fides as a top offensive lineman prospect for this year’s draft, while Colson graduated a year later in 2021 and helped Michigan win a national title this past winter.

Colson also won the Lott Trophy for defensive impact player of the year in 2023.

Both former Raptors should hear their names called this weekend in the first few rounds of this year’s draft, with Barton expected to go on Thursday and Colson expected to go on Friday.

Ravenwood is no stranger to sending a few of its former players into the NFL. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson graduated from the school, as did DC Defenders receiver Chris Rowland, former NFL defensive end Jonathan Woodard and former USFL running back Seth Rowland.

Notable Ravenwood alumni at the college level include Mississippi State quarterback Chris Parson, Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool, Michigan defensive back Myles Pollard, former Oklahoma defensive end Reggie Grimes II and Northwestern kicker Luke Akers (son of legendary NFL kicker David Akers).