Troy EDGE Javon Solomon is an exciting pass rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft. Solomon posted elite numbers when getting after quarterbacks, totaling a career-high 16 sacks in 2023. Solomon has aced a pre-draft process that included standout showings at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine.
Solomon recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his performance at both pre-draft events, his pass-rush arsenal, answering the small school question, which teams are showing interest in his services, and so much more.
JM: You participated at this year’s Senior Bowl. That was a big opportunity for you coming from Troy. What do you think you proved to NFL decision-makers in attendance?
Javon Solomon: Getting that opportunity was huge for me. I played at Troy like you said. People are going to call me a Group of Five prospect. Can Javon Solomon play in the big leagues with the big fellows? That’s the question.
That’s what I wanted to prove in Mobile. I feel like I did great in practice. I won a lot of those one-versus-one reps. It was great for scouts to see. I wasn’t perfect, but I definitely proved that I belonged. I had my wins and losses. I think scouts just needed to see that I belonged in that environment.
I showcased my talents. No matter where I’ve been, or where I end up, I’m a football player at heart. That was the biggest thing. I definitely think I turned some heads in Mobile.
JM: The small school question and level of competition question was a big one for you to address throughout this pre-draft process. What are you telling teams if they ask about it?
Javon Solomon: I feel like Troy is among the most dominant Group of Five programs out there right now. I played against some very high-quality players in the Sun Belt. The Sun Belt has a ton of talent.
I’m happy to fill in the blanks. I understand why they’d want to question the level of competition and hear my answer. I didn’t play at Alabama or Auburn. Is Javon Solomon a football player though? That’s the box I’m trying to check.
I understand the notion that comes with being a Group of Five prospect. It doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m thankful Troy gave me an opportunity. I loved my time here. I knew I had to take advantage of opportunities like the Senior Bowl to dispel those notions.
JM: You did just that. You also participated at this year’s NFL Combine. You ran an outstanding 4.72 40 and leaped a 37-inch vertical and 9-foot-11 broad. Those are great results. How would you grade your overall performance?
Javon Solomon: I think I did solid overall. There were a couple of things I think I could have done better. Hopefully, I’ll have an opportunity at Pro Day (3/18) to improve some of those results. I’m trying to clean some things up.
I definitely turned heads at the NFL Combine though. I was really looking forward to that, and I did reach some of my testing numbers, which was great. The Pro Day represents another opportunity.
Being at the NFL Combine was so surreal. It took me back to being a young kid with a dream. God blessed me with that opportunity. I was truly speechless the whole time I was there. Truly, I was speechless just to be in that building.
Going out there and doing a solid job meant the world to me. I still feel like I didn’t put my complete best foot forward though. That’s why I’m so thankful that Pro Day is coming up. I’m going to display the full range of my capabilities.
The NFL Combine was great, but the upcoming Pro Day has all of my focus now.
JM: You had a huge season in 2023, recording a career-high 16 sacks after a bit of a down year in 2022. What led to that uptick in production?
Javon Solomon: I had 11 sacks in 2021. I feel like I was trying to do everything right. In 2022, it was a down year for me, just like you said. I ended up having to get surgery at the end of the 2022 season.
After that, I went into a place where I understood that football could be taken away from me. I was very limited and couldn’t do anything after surgery. I missed out on spring ball. I feel like God did that on purpose. I had to learn that lesson. I was humbled in a lot of ways.
From 2021 to 2022, it felt like I went back to ground zero. I learned that I couldn’t put football first all the time. I had to put my faith first. Once I did that, everything started falling into place for me.
I saw the world in a different light. I started attacking things differently. During the recovery process, I was working out and doing treatment two times a day. I was doing on-field stuff, watching as much film as I could.
One of our GA’s [Graduate Assistant] Hunter Reese put together a huge library of film for me that I went back and watched. I watched every single pass-rushing snap I had throughout the 2022 season. I was sitting there watching those reps over and over again.
I was trying to understand what wasn’t working and why I didn’t produce like I did in 2021. What happened then that’s not happening now? That was my mindset heading into 2023. I was hungry.
I was relentless. I had a dominant mindset. I wanted to dominate my opponents. God blessed me to go out there and lead the entire country with 16 sacks. That was the fruits of my labor going way back to the injury and the offseason. I remember sitting in that bed after surgery.
All glory to God for that. I came a long way. It was the fruits of my labor.
JM: What an incredible way to look at things. How would you describe your pass-rush arsenal? What are your go-to moves and counters?
Javon Solomon: There are so many great pass rushers out there nowadays that go out every Sunday and do phenomenal things. I try to watch film, obtain knowledge, and copy as much of that as I can. Sometimes I’ll even see something in another college football game that I try to implement.
You have guys like Maxx Crosby with a deep arsenal of moves. I watch a lot of Khalil Mack and Von Miller as well. I watch every great pass rusher that has a deep bag of moves. That’s something I want to develop. Being a college athlete, I was always trying to gain as much knowledge as I could. A lot of coaches helped me along the way.
The cross-chop is a popular move right now. There are a lot of pass rushers who are perfecting the cross-chop. Aaron Donald did it very well. I’m trying to master that cross-chop. That’s one of my go-to moves. I love the two-hand swipe. Joey Bosa has mastered that two-hand swipe.
You need to have some counters as well like you said. You need to have some power moves. I love the long-arm and the bull rush. You need to diversify your arsenal by having a counter move off everything you do. You need to have a spin move.
You need to be able to work back inside when your outside move doesn’t work, or when the offensive tackle is too far upfield. Those are the little things you have to identify when watching film. You should be able to identify which moves you’re able to work. Is the offensive lineman a low puncher? What kind of pass sets does he prefer? You need to spot those tells on tape and go from there.
JM: That’s a great approach to have a complete pass-rush arsenal. With the NFL Combine now in our rearview mirror, do you have any team meetings coming up?
Javon Solomon: I had a formal interview at the NFL Combine with the Eagles. I’ve done some virtual meetings with the Bills and Lions. I have a few more virtual meetings scheduled as well. We’re going to take some in-person visits once my Pro Day is over. We’re figuring out the schedule.
I love these meetings because I really get to display my football knowledge. That’s what those meetings are all about. I love giving teams an opportunity to see who I am because I feel like I’m a football junkie. Those meetings come easy to me.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. We’ve appreciated your time. What kind of impact is Javon Solomon going to make at the next level?
Javon Solomon: I just want an opportunity to showcase my talents. People are eventually going to understand that I am a ball player at the end of the day. I love football. I’m a fan first. Football is everything to me
God truly gave me a passion for the game of football. I’m relentless. My motor never stops running. I plan to bring a different energy with me to the NFL during my rookie season. I want to bring the glory of God with me.
I’m going to showcase my talents on the biggest stage. I can’t wait to perform. I’m going to do whatever my NFL team needs me to do. I just want to help the team win. I’m going to be the player they need me to be. I want to help us win a Super Bowl.
