All-State Recruiting Report: Garrison Solliday (St. Thomas Academy-2021)
In this “All-State” edition of Northstar Football News’ “Recruiting Report” I am going to shoot it to you straight and keep things simple: Garrison Solliday Garrison Solliday 6'0" | DL St. Thomas Academy | 2021 State MN is one of the…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIn this “All-State” edition of Northstar Football News’ “Recruiting Report” I am going to shoot it to you straight and keep things simple:
Garrison Solliday
Garrison
Solliday
6'0" | DL
St. Thomas Academy | 2021
State
MN
is one of the best football players in the state – regardless of age or position – and absolutely deserves to be on a Division I roster after he graduates from perennial 5A contender St. Thomas Academy in June of 2021. One of only six juniors to be selected to the AP & MFCA All-State teams, and one of only four ‘21 grads to be picked for the MNFootballHub All-Metro First Teams, Solliday is heading into next season as one of the most decorated and accomplished athletes in the state. He’s looking to best his absurd 2019 stat-line of 77 tackles, 23 TFLs, and 7 sacks this coming fall, and also just finished 3rd in the 220 lb. AA state wrestling championships earlier this month. I was incredibly excited to represent Northstar Football News in an interview with the 6’, 225 lb. wrecking ball of a defensive lineman who ran a 4.6 40-yard dash at Iowa State’s football camp last year, and he was kind enough to give us some time to discuss his career at STA thus far, the Cadets quest for a state championship, how wrestling has improved his game, when he began playing DL, and more. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy! Check out Solliday’s impressive junior season Hudl if you enjoy quality pass-rush moves, double and triple teams getting beat, and big hits.
NFN: Hello and thank you for your time, Garrison. Congratulations on your success in 2019, as well as STA’s. Please begin by sharing with us a little bit about when you began playing football, what you love about the game, and a little bit about how football brought you to STA.
Solliday: “I started playing football in about 2nd grade, I wasn’t the most coordinated for flag football but I eventually matured as I was a lot faster and stronger than most kids my age. As I got into my middle school football years and the weight limits were dropped I was a linebacker and a running back on the side. I enjoyed being able to hit people between the whistles and I was never a trouble maker of any sorts but I did enjoy being able to hit. My dad was the coach for my football team from 4th-8th grade. And my team was always in the running for the league championship every year. My dad taught me a lot about the game and the disciplines of it and I matured and started lifting weights and was a lot stronger than most kids and was always the first to stick my face mask into the ball carrier. As high school approached I thought I would attend Eagan but my parents made the best decision for me and I attended STA and I made the decision to be a full time defensive player. I was captain for our freshman football team as a middle linebacker. As my sophomore season approached I had goals for playing varsity under our new coach Dan O’Brien. During two-a-days he told me I could crack the varsity line up if I played defensive line; no one took it serious at first but I gave it my all and became a starter and was all conference and led the team in sacks/TFLs in our state championship attempts. I’m 6’0, 225 pounds. Bench: 315 Squat: 420 (not up to date ) & I posted a 4.60 40 at the Iowa State football camp last year”
NFN: Impressive. Now tell us a little bit about your 2018 sophomore season. What were some highlights and lowlights? And what did you work on that offseason going into ‘19 to better your game?
Solliday: “In 2018 I was a sophomore and it was one of my favorite seasons ever because it was such a tight knit group of guys who enjoyed the game. We were undefeated going into the postseason which is something not many saw possible with a new head coach. The biggest downfall was the state championship loss and knowing I’d never play with that same team again because they all took me under their wing as the only sophomore. Going into the post season the mentality was finish what we started. But it was hard to see that far into the future when we were graduating nearly our entire team with over 40 seniors leaving. In the off-season I worked out with ex-NFL player Steve Rosga multiple times a week as well as through our school lighting and conditioning programs. Over the summer I attended the Iowa State football camp as a middle linebacker but couldn’t make it to the Wisconsin camp I was signed up for the next week.”
NFN: That may be the biggest senior class I’ve ever heard of. Now how about wrestling..how did the season go this year? And what does wrestling do that improves your football game?
Solliday: “This year I placed 3rd in the 220 AA division as the only Cadet to make it to state. We are in the toughest section in state and I personally know this well as I have fallen just short of making it to state my freshman and sophomore year. So that was a big accomplishment for me as I headed into state where I brought home 3rd. Wrestling has helped me tremendously with my balance and footwork as well as a mental edge. It’s one of the toughest sports and to go out 1 on 1 against someone with no back up has given me a mental drive that translates to football and life. Football has taught me explosiveness off of the ball which has helped me power through opponents in wrestling.”
NFN: Well said. Next, get into some detail about the 2019 season? What were some big games for you and the team? Especially in the postseason?
Solliday: “Our first couple games of this season kind of felt odd because no one thought we would be right back where we left off the year before. Our coaches reminded us daily that we weren’t the same team and we weren’t invincible and we would have to prove our self every week because teams would give us their best shot every week. We were 7-0 before our game with Chaska, we picked up some tough wins over Apple Valley and Coon Rapids. Our minds weren’t necessarily ready going into that game, it was a short week of school and a Wednesday game. They (Chaska) started off pounding down the field and settling for a field goal, then our offense couldn’t quite get it going. They gave us their best shot just like every team before them. When they won that game it was like the state championship for them, they stormed the field and chanted overrated at us as we walked off the field. That moment stuck with everyone as we headed into the playoffs. Our practices became better than they had been all season with extreme focus from everyone. We had a long tough game against Apple Valley and their was a brief day of excitement but we all knew Owatonna was next. That week of practice was the most focused that I’ve ever seen that team, it was a vengeance game and we would not lose to them. Personally for me it was one of my best games of the season because they switched to a spread offense and I got to rush the quarter back a lot and when they ran our defensive line shut them down all game. Our offense was physical and after the 21-0 victory it was the most exciting win all season as we were picked as underdogs.”
NFN: I remember that game. It was a big win and no one had you guys winning. How about that Elk River game? And the state championship rematch with Chaska?
Solliday: “Going into the next game we were still underdogs but we blew out Elk River. Everyone thought they would run all over us like all the other teams before us. But we believed we were different because our discipline was better than any team in the state. Everyone read their keys and did their job. That week we focused on doing our job and our coaches referenced that a lot. But after that game our team was more fired up than ever because we wanted what we lost last year and the only person in our way was Chaska and we wanted another shot at them. We all knew it would be tough and physical up front and we would have to be disciplined. The first drive of the game they drive down and kicked a field goal on us just like our first game. But that was all they got all game until their last drive. Our defense played incredible giving our offense the field position to get down to the 1-yard line. It was here that our coaches threw in a goal line package and said QB sneak. I didn’t know what to do so I hit our quarterback as hard as I could and pushed him through the line into the end zone. I told him after that was because I never get to hit him in practice. The rest of the game was very defensive until 2 minutes left and they had the ball. It was 4th and 9 and the championship seemed to be held in that play. The quarterback threw an out route behind the receiver and we thought we had won, but a flag came in giving them another chance. Next they threw a deep bomb with some interference with our DB but there was no flag there. They were in the red zone now with a minute left. When they threw a slant route that our safety crashed down on, he hit our own cornerback not the receiver and actually broke his collarbone but the ref flagged him for the hit. Then it was at the goal line and they punched it in. A lot of people like to blame the refs for our loss in the championship. But our mentality going into this next year is there is always something we can do, we could have stopped them at the goal line. Or ran a hurry up and scored right after but there is always something more we could have done. That night there was a lot of emotions as it felt the championship had been stolen from us. Going into this next year we are more hungry than ever to be successful.”
NFN: Well said, again. So what kind of factors contributed to your incredible All-State and All-Metro season? How did teams adjust to your dominance? Why do you think you had such a successful season?
Solliday: “My sophomore season I was flying in under the radar and many teams didn’t know who I was or how to scout me so I was very disruptive in games. My confidence was high going into my Junior year because I had the experience now and I believe no one can stop me. But this year I knew every team would know me and game plan me. This became very apparent as well as frustrating when teams would audible away from my side or double and triple team me. This gave my teammates the opportunity to make plays as well. Our defensive line was very prideful as we believe we are always they best on the field at all times. We all helped each other forcing plays to one another. I believe I had such a good season from help from my other lineman as well as Coach Marks our defensive line coach who helped us love the game and enjoy every part of it.”
NFN: Nice. Last but not least, what’s up with recruiting? Who are some teams you’ve been in contact with/interested in? And what do you think you can add to a college program?
Solliday: “My goal is to play collegiate football at the D1 level. But I will never close off any doors. If wrestling fits then maybe that’s the path I take. But as of now, my goal would be to play football in college and get a degree. As of now I’ve been contacted by a few D1 and D2 schools. With junior day invites from SDSU and NDSU and Minnesota-Moorhead (d2) and Northern State (d2). I think I can add a lot to a program from a player standpoint as well as a leader. I always give 100% and run to the football and I’m not afraid to hit anyone and when I get my hands on someone I always bring them down. I also am very coachable as well as a team player.”
I really enjoyed this interview with Solliday, but not as much as I enjoy watching him play. I hope the NFN readers are as excited to see Solliday dominate MN prep football next fall as I am. This won’t be the last you hear from #54!