re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

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Hank actually said Shaun Wade's visit was unofficial. He will either official for the A&M or Auburn game.

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I wouldn't mind if Bama only took Harris in this class.

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the new Eastern division version of OM

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Georgia has advantage for Solomon in key area

LEESBURG, Ga. — Aubrey Solomon, Alabama’s top defensive tackle target in the Class of 2017, made it clear that Alabama has some work to do in order to get his commitment.

Solomon, a 4-star defensive tackle from Lee County High School (Leesburg, Ga.), told SEC Country that Georgia is doing the best job at communicating with his family.

That’s important because his mother, Sabrina Caldwell, will have a huge say where her son attends college next year.

“It is not really like I don’t have (a say) in the decision because I do,” Solomon said. “I know what’s best for me, but at the end of the day, my mom knows what’s best for me. She birthed me. She knows what’s best for me, so we are going to talk it out. Whatever she feels is the best (school) I’m going to go with it.”

The U.S. Army All-American said he pictures himself playing at either Alabama, Georgia or Clemson. All three of those schools have a “group of defensive linemen going to the NFL every year,” Solomon said.

But neither Alabama nor Clemson has Georgia defensive line coach Tracy Rocker or director of player development Jonas Jennings on staff. In Solomon’s recruitment, he’s closest to those two and no one else comes close, he said.

He also talks to Kirby Smart the most among head coaches, doing so at least once a week.

The nation’s No. 5 defensive tackle will take official visits to Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Florida and Michigan, the school he was once committed to.

He already knows what the Crimson Tide must do to impress him when he makes that visit, which has not been set up yet.

“They just need to show my family a good time and show that they actually care about my family and not just me,” Solomon said.

Has Alabama done that up until this point?

“Not necessarily. They have in a way, but not how Georgia does,” Solomon said. “They put my family first and then they come to me. That’s what I like — my family first, then me.”

The good news for the Alabama staff is that Solomon is already planning to take his recruitment past National Signing Day. It’s possible that a commitment could come in May, shortly before he would need to report to his school of choice for summer workouts.

“I’m not really worried about recruiting until my senior season is done,” Solomon said. “Once my senior season is done, I’ll be happy to do all of that recruiting. Until then, I’m just trying to focus on this team and win state.”

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound prospect said Alabama sees him as a successor to Jonathan Allen, who is almost assuredly going to be a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

“They’ll show me film of Allen, who’s just doing it all,” Solomon said. “They see me playing that type of position and being that type of player.”

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Browning comments on Alabama

If you read the Alabama recruiting mailbag this past Friday, you already knew that 5-star outside linebacker Baron Browning will take an official visit to Alabama for the team’s game against Texas A&M on Oct. 22.

Alabama already has four linebacker commitments in the Class of 2017 in 5-star prospect Dylan Moses and 4-star recruits VanDarius Cowan, Markail Benton and Gary Johnson.

All four of those prospects are viewed by the Alabama staff as inside or middle linebackers. Browning is being courted by Alabama as an outside linebacker, and there’s still room in this class for at least one at the position.

Browning is near or at the top of the list for Alabama, but it’s still a long-shot he ends up signing with the Tide. Ohio State and Texas are viewed as the favorites in his recruitment.

But the three things the U.S. Army All-American shared with Damon Sayles of Bleacher Report are interesting.

-Browning said he’s looking for a school with a good strength and conditioning coach. Check that box for Alabama, as Scott Cochran is arguably the best in college football.

-The school needs to have a solid position coach. Again, Alabama has one of the best in the country in outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi. Lupoi also is one of the nation’s best recruiters.

-Finally, his school of choice needs a reliable defensive coordinator. The Tide have that in Jeremy Pruitt, who has had a fantastic defense at every school he’s been at, a list that includes Florida State and Georgia.

Alabama has all of the things he’s looking for, so this upcoming visit for Browning is an important moment.

“Of course you want to get know (Nick Saban),” Browning said. “But those three coaches will be the ones I’m with the majority of the time. The relationships with those guys have to be great.”

Browning said he plans to announce his commitment on Nov. 29.

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