Lee County’s Aubrey Solomon to play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl

LEESBURG — Tuesday afternoon was a day of fanfare at Lee County High School as senior defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon was recognized for being selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Solomon is the first player in Lee County’s history to receive such an honor and while he’s forging a new legacy in the town’s history, his mother, navy veteran Sabrina Caldwell said he’s continuing an important one in their family.

“I’m prior Navy and my dad and my two brothers, they’re prior Army,” she said. “[Aubrey] lost his uncle in Iraq and his grandfather received a couple purple hearts, he was in the Vietnam War and his uncle was a staff sergeant and made staff sergeant at an early, early pace. And to see him receive that it was like seeing a legacy, seeing history unfold.”

For Solomon, he said knowing that he could contribute to his family’s legacy in such a way was a tremendous honor.

“It’s a big, big, huge honor. Coming from a military family, it gets no better than this, it really can’t,” he said.

Caldwell said she made a vow to hold back the tears but noted watching him put on the Army jersey was an overwhelming experience.

“When I saw him put that on, I saw my family,” she said. “It’s a feeling that you can’t shake to know that you are going to play and you’re playing for them and it’s awesome.”

Solomon is one of only 90 high school athletes selected to play and joins the ranks of current superstars Odell Beckham Jr. and Andrew Luck as players who will have taken the field for the event, scheduled for the Alamodome in San Antonio on Jan. 7.

Surrounded by classmates, teachers, teammates and family, Solomon received his jersey before briefly addressing the crowd. He started first by thanking God for the opportunity, then thanked everyone, his mother in particular, for their support. Afterward, he said he still can’t believe he was selected.

“It’s just a blessing really,” he said. “Growing up watching, thinking one day that could be me and then for it to actually come, it’s just a shock. I’m still in shock, still in awe right now.”

Head coach Dean Fabrizio also spoke briefly and expressed the pride he feels watching a student athlete such as Solomon make history. As the pep band played and the students made their way back to class, Fabrizio reiterated just how deserving Solomon is.

“Aubrey’s been a great student athlete and in our school, been a great person. He’s a great leader on this football team and on the field, his accomplishments speak for themselves,” he said. “He’s been a four-year starter for us. He’s one of the most dominant defensive players in the state this year as a senior and just a top-quality player and person.”

Solomon feels that the program is long overdue for a selection and hopes that by making the team, he’s opened the door for so many other talented athletes in the area.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the best player, there’s hundreds of us out here,” he said. “I know they’re gonna take us more seriously, come down here, take a look at our talent, take a look at us as a whole.”