Aubrey Solomon On Michigan Decommitment: ‘It Was Just A Little Heartbreaking’


Four-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon divulged the reason for his decommitment from the Michigan Wolverines.


Jim Harbaugh’s staff has seen three recruits decommit within 24 hours.

Three-star defensive end Leonard Taylor backed off his pledge from Michigan’s 2018 class on Monday afternoon. By Tuesday morning, the Wolverines lost their second 2018 commit when 3-star offensive guard Jalil Irvin also backed out of his commitment.

Sandwiched between Taylor and Irvin was a decommitment from Aubrey Solomon, the No. 5-ranked defensive tackle and No. 54 overall player in the 2017 class.

While the loss of Solomon didn’t knock Michigan out of its No. 8 class ranking, the 4-star prospect released a statement regarding his decision and clarified that his mother would have a much bigger role in his recruitment moving forward.

Solomon later divulged the reason for his decommitment to 247Sports, and it doesn’t make the Wolverines look great.

“A day or two ago, they sent my mom a card thanking us for going to the Michigan BBQ, but we never went,” Solomon said. “I do not know which recruit they were talking to, but it was not me. It was just a little heartbreaking, for me to supposedly be so high on their list, for them to confuse me with someone else. Plus they spelled both of my names wrong after I told them, but that was not the main issue. I guess they do not have tabs on me.”

The aforementioned BBQ took place in Ann Arbor on Aug. 6, and some big-time Michigan targets were in attendance. Five-star running back and Alabama commit Najee Harris and 4-star wide receiver Nico Collins both attended, but it seems as though somebody, anybody, should have made a note that Solomon wasn’t one of the highly touted recruits on campus — especially because he was already committed.

In May, news broke of Urban Meyer forgetting who 4-star athlete Bruce Judson was, which ultimately led to Judson’s decommitment. Judson has since pledged to the USF Bulls, but he might have still been in the Buckeyes’ 2017 class, one that is lining up to be the greatest ever, had Meyer remembered who he was.

While we’re not sure who’s specifically at fault for the situation in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh’s staff still tripped over its shoelaces, and the two stories seem eerily similar and equally disappointing.

Both Meyer and Harbaugh are tenacious recruiters. And — despite the topsy-turvy nature of recruiting — it’s not difficult to simply remember a kid’s name or double check how his name is spelled. It’s not even that tall of an order to simply make a note in your phone that one of your highest-rated commits is not on campus.

Solomon appears to be leaning toward his home-state Georgia Bulldogs now. It might not mean much from a rankings standpoint  Harbaugh’s staff will still secure a top-10 class by the time National Signing Day rolls around on Feb. 1  but it’s the principle that matters.

Sure, a lot of prospects are full of themselves, and recruiting has evolved into a show-business-like atmosphere. However in Solomon’s case, all he expected was to simply not to be forgotten. For coaches to actually know who he is.

In a difficult business, that’s one area that shouldn’t be that hard. 

Note: Scout rankings and ratings used in this article.

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