The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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58 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2016 PREP PROFILES Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County four-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon com- mitted to Michigan over the summer but after being thanked for attending a BBQ event that he didn't attend, he decided to open things back up. The thank-you note gaff wasn't the only reason the 6-4, 287-pounder de- cided to decommit, but it certainly didn't help matters. His mother never really signed off on the com- mitment, and Solomon felt like he made an impulsive decision. How- ever, that could be changing after he and mom spent some time in Ann Arbor for an official visit during the Maryland game weekend. The No. 4 defensive tackle and No. 94 overall player in the country was, and still would be, Michigan's highest-rated defensive commit. He would fill a hole at a position of need and is still viewed as a top priority for the U-M staff despite decommit- ting in late August. "It was really just that I thought I should weigh my options more," Solomon of his decommitment. "I felt like I rushed into it too early. That's really the gist of it." The time Solomon and his mother spent in Ann Arbor was viewed as a major success according to those close to the program and may have even vaulted U-M back to the top of his list of suitors. Sabrina Caldwell, Solomon's mother, seemed to really like Ann Ar- bor and was shown much about the academics and student life at U-M, which seemed to make her very com- fortable with the idea of sending her son all the way up north for college. People close to Solomon's situation stated that the visit went so well that the thought of recommitting crossed Solomon's mind, but he decided to wait and stay patient for the rest of his recruitment. The in-state Georgia Bulldogs re- ally turned up the heat on Solomon after he opened up his recruitment, and it won't be an uncontested battle for the Michigan staff to re-reel in Solomon. And Georgia won't be the only competition. "I'd say Clemson, Michigan, the biggest of them all is Alabama like every day, Florida, Ohio State and USC," Solomon said of whom he hears from the most. "I feel like it's going to go all the way to National Signing Day, or maybe even after that. That's how I feel." As of Nov. 15, Solomon and his Lee County Trojans were 8-2 and prep- ping for the second round of the 6A Georgia state playoffs after a 42-0 win over Evans in the opening round. As a junior, Solomon was selected to the Georgia Sports Writers Associ- ation Class 6A (largest classification) All-State second team. — Brandon Brown Michigan hosted six official visitors for the matchup against Maryland and got a 56-point win in front of some big-time talent. The biggest of them all, literally, was El Cerrito (Calif.) High four-star offensive tackle Aaron Banks. The 6-7, 335-pounder is a mountain of a young man and is considered the No. 15 offensive tackle and No. 101 overall prospect nationally. Banks came to Ann Arbor with his mother and "little" brother Franklin — a 2019 defensive tackle that checks in at 6-1 and 320 pounds — and got a chance to see what Michigan football and Ann Arbor are all about. "It was really nice. I got to see the team in person and see how their offense runs," Banks said. "I didn't get a real good chance to get around Ann Arbor, but from what I saw it was great." The Michigan staff is still in on a lot of elite talent along the offensive line, and, while Banks might not be target No. 1, he's in the mix. He is intrigued with the idea of joining other blue chippers to form a special class of of- fensive linemen. "The coaches showed me their depth chart, and I would have a good chance to come in and make an impact early," Banks said. "I love competition though. I know that a lot of the top guys are being recruited with me. "It would be cool to come in with some of them and be a statement offensive line as a whole class of freshmen." As of Nov. 15, Banks and his El Cerrito Gauchos were 8-3 and in the second round of the Division 3 NCS/ Les Schwan Tires Football Champi- onships after defeating Acalanes 31-14 in the opening weekend of Northern California playoff football. Once his senior season is over, he'll get a chance to sit down and iron out the details of his recruit- ment. He's got a plan in place but still hasn't made up his mind about a destination. "I want to decide between Decem- ber 4 and 18," said Banks, who also officially visited Notre Dame and Oregon, plans to tour Tennessee and Nebraska, and is also considering Cal. — Brandon Brown One-Time U-M Commit Giving The Wolverines Another Shot Massive California Offensive Tackle In The Mix For Michigan ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Lee County Leesburg, Ga. Class: 2017 Position: Defensive Tackle Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 287 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 4 defensive tackle and No. 94 overall player in the nation Aubrey Solomon ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ El Cerrito El Cerrito, Calif. Class: 2017 Position: Offensive Tackle Ht.: 6-7 • Wt.: 334 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 15 offensive tackle and No. 101 overall prospect in the country Aaron Banks Solomon on his timeline "I feel like it's going to go all the way to National Sign- ing Day, or maybe even after that. That's how I feel." Banks "The coaches showed me their depth chart, and I would have a good chance to come in and make an impact early."