Making the case: Aubrey Solomon
With National Signing Day less than a week away, the majority of the nation's top recruits are already committed. But a few remain undecided, and a few commits are wavering on their choices.
Today, experts from the Rivals.com network examine where five-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon will land. The candidates are Alabama, Michigan and Georgia.
The Situation: Solomon has had one of the of more vexing recruitments of any prospect in the 2017 class. He initially committed to Michigan, shortly after naming Alabama his leader, only to decommit after a mail snafu led to the Wolverines sending him a thank you note for an event he didn’t attend. Initially it looked like he was bound to stay close to home and attend Georgia, but Michigan and Alabama both jumped back into the mix and ended up hosting him for official visits, something the Bulldogs did not. So how will it all shake out? We asked our team experts to state the case for their respective programs and let National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell issue a verdict.
Michigan: “Even though his recruitment has been a bit odd, Solomon was once committed to Michigan and there are obviously a lot of reasons for that. He visited last summer and liked Ann Arbor, Jim Harbaugh and the rest of what U-M can offer enough to pledge even though it didn’t stick. Now, he’s taken visits, let things settle, and Michigan is still right there. He fills a massive need for Michigan on the interior of the defensive line and the staff has made sure he knows that. The late in-home visit by Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Don Brown left a huge mark on Solomon, and ace recruiter Chris Partridge followed that up with a school visit. Michigan is making the efforts and Solomon is paying attention.” – Brandon Brown, The Wolverine.com
Georgia: “Georgia may have some young, talented depth on the defensive line, which they displayed last year, but there's always plenty of room for more. Aubrey Solomon is the state's best in that respect, and he's also one of the nation's best. He could become a lynchpin for the Bulldogs' line for years to come, and there's no doubt a player of his skill would be slated for early playing time. Play aside, he'd become a folk hero to Georgia fans if he spurned his other options to stay home, which is something the Bulldogs could have used more of with highly rated in-state players in recent years.” – Jake Reuse, UGASports.com
Alabama: “Alabama has recruited Solomon for more than a year. He has always been a top priority for the Crimson Tide coaching staff. Solomon named Alabama his leader earlier this month. Coach Saban and the defensive staff visited him on Thursday. He is a vital piece at a major position of need.” – Andrew Bone, TideSports.com
The Verdict: "I'm going with Alabama. Since his decommitment from Michigan I thought he would end up in the SEC but still want to get out of state, and Alabama offers that opportunity." - Mike Farrell, Rivals.com National Recruiting Director
