Colbert attended Hueneme High School in Oxnard, California, and was a letterman in football and track.

In his final year at USC (2003), Colbert made an unbelievable catch while he was interfered by a defender in the Rose Bowl against University of Michigan, broke away and walked into the end zone for a touchdown.

He earned All-Pac-10 second-team honors his senior year and finished second on the team with 69 receptions for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns.

On September 16, 2008, Colbert was acquired from the Denver Broncos by the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

Colbert was signed by the Detroit Lions on December 1, 2008, after wide receiver Mike Furrey was placed on injured reserve.

In 2010, Colbert was hired as the assistant tight ends coach at USC, a position he held for only one season.

He helped the Crimson Tide win two SEC titles and a national championship in 2015 season[8] In 2016, Colbert returned to the USC coaching staff as an offensive analyst.