SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Aubrey Solomon definitely likes Alabama.
The nation’s No. 2 defensive tackle continued with his opinion on Monday that the Crimson Tide leads in the race for his decision.
“By a lot,” Solomon said of a decision that will extend beyond National Signing Day. “I believe so.”
Why?
“I would say by what they have shown me recently,” Solomon said. “How their defense is playing. Lights-out. Just unreal.”
The 6-foot-3, 288-pounder also said without a doubt that he has never made a silent commitment to any school. That should devalue any theories out in message board land that he’s already made a silent commitment to the Tide.
We covered one final point. Alabama leads. By a lot.
“It is a good margin but I know especially with all these recruits here UGA is catching up, he said.
But this is where this blog takes a detour from the normal post.
I’m going to chronicle not only what was said in our exchange but also what all the other Georgia commitments were saying, too.
The 5-star prospect said that “Richie” was not letting up. That’s his name for UGA 5-star safety commit Richard LeCounte III.
“He’s doing a dang good job I tell you that right now,” Solomon said. “And then (here) I room with (UGA commit Jeremiah) Holloman. So I get a double dose of it.”
He said that “double dose” was more than just trying to be another Alabama.
“They are saying that we are going to be better than Alabama in a couple of years,” Solomon said. “(They say) when we are hoisting that national championship (trophy) it would be all said and done after that.”
The constant chatter and bravado from the UGA commitments on hand after the practice could not be ignored.
While Solomon met the media, there was a constant stream of “UGA” and “He’s going to Georgia” in the background. He was still in interview mode. His peers were not.
When 5-star safety Richard LeCounte III walked by he said “right there is the most interesting man in the world” and pointed to Solomon.
We tried to steer the conversation back on course. Back to the part where he said that Alabama leads.
“I believe it is a huge lead and it is really I will say it is a SEC fight,” Solomon said. “That’s how I feel. It is a big SEC fight.”
The nation’s No. 31 overall prospect was answering a question when we had to hit the pause button.
That’s the point when UGA commit Netori Johnson started saying from the stands that “I don’t care what he say he’s coming to Georgia” and “you know he’s going to be a Dawg.”
“Can you hear them in the background?” Solomon said. “Can you hear that?”
Solomon said those words, shrugged his shoulders and then smiled.
But then he laughed as those Georgia commits kept that up.
He said Auburn and Florida are also in the picture. He liked how he could possibly play early at Florida.
“That’s not really why I would commit to a school because hard work would pay off regardless,” Solomon said. “I definitely like what they have got going for themselves. Especially recently even though I know their (defensive) coordinator left. He was a dang good one, too.”
Solomon also shared a deep appreciation for current Georgia defensive tackle Trent Thompson.
“A lot of those boys taught me how to play,” Solomon said. “Trent in my ninth grade year he taught me how to play d-tackle so he’s really the reason why I am out here right now so I have got to give thanks to Trent. But at the end of the day, he just told me to follow your heart and all that.”