Hometown: Leesburg, Ga.
We didn’t have Aubrey Solomon among the top players Tennessee football could not afford to lose because he is playing a position that is loaded up front. Defensive line has a deep rotation with every major contributor back from last year, including Darel Middleton, Greg Emerson, Kurrott Garland, Matthew Butler and LaTrell Bumphus.
However, Solomon is the standout player of those guys. The 6’5″ 315-pound product of Lee County High School transferred from the Michigan Wolverines and immediately became the starter at defensive tackle last year. Former UT defensive line coach Tracy Rocker moved him around from defensive tackle to even the one defensive end spot, showcasing his versatility.
In the process, he had 28 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one hurry and one recovered fumble. This year, Jimmy Brumbaugh is lining him up at nose tackle, according to the depth chart for the first game, with two players who are more like ends, Bumphus and Butler, on either side of him. That puts even more pressure on Solomon to be a star.
Well, given the fact that he’s had another full offseason in Jeremy Pruitt’s and Derrick Ansley’s system, he should be able to handle it. Solomon will become one of Rocky Top’s best players this year and be the anchor for the middle, and that’s enough for us to put him on the list. With plenty of experience as well, he will finally live up to his five-star recruiting rating from high school.