Frankie Solomon

Frankie Solomon

Player Profile

Hometown:
Dallas, Texas
High School:
South Oak Cliff HS
Height / Weight:
5-10 / 185
Position:
Safety
Birthdate:
11/24/1987
Experience:
2006-09

• Lobo TV Feature: Frankie & Quintell Solomon
• Frankie Solomon Video Blog On The Mtn.

NEW MEXICO:

Veteran safety who was one of the team's most active defenders as a first-year starter in 2008 and has improved each year after breaking into the defensive rotation as a true freshman in 2006...finished with 220 tackles (3.5 TFL), 19 pass break-ups, and 4 interceptions (2 TDs) in 47 career games (24 starts)...a bit undersized, but a smart player who brought great quickness, tenacity and playmaking ability to the position...surprisingly physical for his size and fearless in run support...developed into a fine cover man as well...three-year punt returner and brought back kicks the past 2 years...shot up the depth chart right away after joining the team in August of '06 and quickly established himself as one of the team's top playmakers...was given the jersey number 96 as a rookie and despite his complaints was forced to keep it due to his lack of seniority in the program...eventually embraced the unusual defensive back number and wore it with pride...four-time Academic all-MWC honoree who graduated with his degree in Business Administration in December of 2009 - just 3 1/2 years after he arrived on campus...one of the team's biggest characters on and off the field, he filmed several short videos for GoLobos.com's Lobo TV under the tagline "96 News"...also did a weekly video blog for The Mtn.

2009 (SENIOR): The Lobos' captain of the secondary...led the team with 7 passes defended, inluding an interception (returned 26 yards for a TD at Texas Tech) and team-high 6 pass break-ups...3rd on the team with a career-high 85 tackles (53 solo, 0.5 for loss) in 12 starts at free safety...forced and recovered a fumble...also had a 22.6-yard average on a team-high 19 kickoff returns (long of 33)...long of 10 in his team-high 12 punt returns...team captain in week 2 and voted Most Inspirational Player by his teammates...Academic All-MWC honoree as well.

`09 HIGHLIGHTS:
vs. Colorado State...Big performance in his final home game...got in on 9 tackles and forced a critical fumble in kick coverage that set up his younger brother's first career TD reception...didn't allow any deep passes and sealed the UNM victory when he jumped on a loose ball at midfield on the Rams' final play...also had a season-long 31 yard kickoff return.

vs. UNLV...All over the field with a career-high 14 tackles (7 solo)...also broke up a pass with a big hit downfield...at Wyoming...Solid performance on a frigid, snowy day, recording 7 tackles and 2 pass break-ups - both in the end zone, including one on a 4th-and-2 play.

at Texas Tech...5 solo tackles and took an interception back 29 yards for a TD early in the 4th quarter...shed several arm tackles on the score.

vs. Air Force...Tallied 9 tackles (6 solo), including several big hits flying up in run support, and broke up a pass.

at Texas A&M...Career-high 10 tackles in the opener.

2008 (JUNIOR): Enjoyed a career year in his first 12 starts...3rd on the team with a career-high 73 tackles (6.1 avg.)...made 30 stops in the final 4 games (7.5 avg.)...also showed great improvement in coverage, matching his career-high with 6 break-ups...scored from 13 yards out on his lone interception...made a big impact on special teams as well...averaged 21.8 yards on 22 kickoff returns with a long of 54 yards...10.3-yard average on 10 punt returns with a long of 28.

`08 HIGHLIGHTS:
at UNLV...Matched his career-high with 9 tackles and brought back 3 kicks for 56 yards, including a long of 28.

vs. No. 9 Utah...Another strong performance, recording 7 stops (4 solo), including a TFL, in 68 snaps...faced 3 passes in man coverage and didn't allow a single completion...also had a QB hurry to force an incompletion and had a 32-yard kickoff return.

at Air Force...Matched his career-high with 9 stops (4 solo) to help limit Air Force to just 228 yards on the night - 164 under its season average...didn't give the Falcon passers any place to go with the ball.

vs. San Diego State...Got in on 4 tackles and didn't allow any completions in man coverage to help limit SDSU to 161 yards passing - 79 under its season average...enjoyed his best game as a returner...averaged 20.5 yards on his 2 punt returns, including a season-long of 28, and brought his lone kickoff return back 26 yards.

at No. 8 BYU...Excellent performance to help the Lobos' hold one of the nation's premier passing offenses 75 yards under its average...was only thrown at twice in man coverage...notched a break-up and didn't allow any long passes...got in on 6 stops.

vs. Wyoming...Sparked the Lobos' early when he intercepted a tipped pass and went 13 yards for a TD on the opening play of the game...finished with 7 tackles (none missed) and notched a PBU to help limit the Cowboys to just 71 yards passing.

at Tulsa...6 tackles (5 solo) and averaged 27.5 yards on his 4 kickoff returns with a career-long of 54...85 defensive/special teams snaps.

vs. Arizona...4 tackles and 2 pass break-ups - both in the 4th quarter...helped in a stellar defensive effort that held the previously undefeated Wildcats 28 points and 99 yards under their season average...the `Cats also had just 67 yards rushing - 142 under their average entering the night.

vs. Texas A&M...Got in on 5 stops and knocked away 2 passes to help limit the Aggies to just 236 yards of total offense...1 punt return for 13 yards and brough back 2 kickoffs for 45 yards...also downed a punt at the 1 yard line...78 defensive/special teams snaps.

vs. TCU...Made his first career start and was all over the field in 84 defensive/special teams snaps...5 tackles, including several open-field stops to cut down Horned Frog RBs for minimal gain, and a QB hurry...averaged 21.2 yards on his first 4 kickoff returns with a long of 26.

2007 (SOPHOMORE): Was an active player in the secondary and on special teams, coming off the bench in all 13 games...45 tackles, including 22 in the last 4 games of the regular season...2.0 tackles for loss and 2 fumble recoveries as well...7 passes defended with 2 interceptions and 5 pass break-ups...long of 30 yards (3.6 avg.) on his 17 punt returns.

`07 HIGHLIGHTS:
vs. UNLV...Recorded 5 solo tackles and broke up 2 passes to limit the Rebels to just 142 passing yards and a 38% completion rate (15-40)...also had a 14-yard punt return.

at Utah...Made 5 more stops (4 solo) and came out of a pile of offensive linemen to recover a late fumble near the UNM goal line.

vs. Colorado State...Big effort against a bruising rushing attack...recorded a career-high 9 tackles, including 6 stops for 3 yards or less...assisted on 2 tackles for loss.

vs. Air Force...3 stops and made one of the defensive plays of the game when he fought off a blocker to recover Chad Hall's fumble late in the 4th quarter.

at Arizona...Outstanding performance to help the Lobos secure a landmark road win...had 3 pass break-ups and victory-clinching interception on the Wildcats' final drive...knocked away passes into the end zone on back-to-back plays in the 2nd quarter, leading to a missed FG by the Wildcats...finished with 3 tackles, including 1 for loss.

vs. New Mexico State...Outstanding effort, recording 5 tackles and making the momentum changing play of the game with his 4th quarter INT deep in UNM territory...showed great concentration in snaring a deflected pass out of midair to help secure the victory...UNM scored 10 unanswered points after the INT...also had a big hit in run support and a 10-yard punt return.

2006 (TRUE FRESHMAN): Played in 10 games off the bench and on special teams after making his collegiate debut in week 2 at New Mexico State...finished with 17 tackles, 3 QB hurries, a pass break-up and forced a fumble...season-high 4 tackles in 33 snaps vs. San Diego State...credited for 2 QB hurries blitzing off the edge vs. San Jose State in the New Mexico Bowl.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2006 graduate of Dallas South Oak Cliff HS...first team all-district safety in 2005 at South Oak Cliff...had 3 interceptions for head coach J.B. Wallace...had a 3.77 cumulative grade-point-average...spent his first 3 years at Wilmer-Hutchins High School...first team all-district safety as a junior with 66 tackles and 3 picks...also a 3-year starter and all-district centerfielder in baseball, a 2-year starter on the basketball team and district champion in the triple jump.

PERSONAL: Born Nov. 24, 1987, in Philadelphia...age is 21...full name is Frankie Solomon Jr...son of Melissa Neugent...stepfather is David Smith...stepbrother David Smith Jr., played football at Arkansas-Pine Bluff...major is Business Administration.

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