Five-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon called Chris Partridge, his lead recruiter at Michigan, right before he walked on the stage to announce his college decision and told him he was going to be a Wolverine.

It was a roller coaster recruitment where Partridge never flinched or changed his demeanor, whether it was the Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County High blue-chipper committing to the Maize and Blue back in June only to decommit in August over a mail snafu.

Partridge continued to reach out to Solomon as Georgia emerged as the leader and then Alabama, never changing his approach. Solomon was caught on camera at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in early January saying an expletive about Michigan. When he called to apologize, Partridge brushed it off real quick and put Solomon at ease.

The nation’s No. 2 defensive tackle was always at ease with Partridge and it was his signature that also sealed the Wolverines linebackers coach as 247Sports Recruiter of the Year. Partridge began the day No. 2 and played a hand in 14 of Michigan’s 30 signatures in the 2017 recruiting cycle.

Although Solomon never officially told Partridge he was coming till the last moment, he always felt good about Michigan’s chances.

“I had a great relationship with Aubrey and I can tell he was very comfortable around myself and Coach (Greg) Mattison and around our coaches,” Partridge told 247Sports. “That goes a long way. When kids get stressed out down the line with all these coaches calling and texting them, I could tell when I saw him at school and in the house and talking to him these past few days, I could tell he was comfortable and talking about stuff other than football. Did I know 100 percent he was coming, no, but I felt like he was extremely comfortable in communicating and talking and it made me feel good about the place he was at going into his decision.”

In his first year on the recruiting trail last season Partridge finished 12th nationally, including a signature from the nation’s No. 1 recruit Rashan Gary on Signing Day. Besides Solomon in 2017, the 36-year old was the lead recruiter on the nation’s No. 1 center Cesar Ruiz, and several other Top247 recruits including defensive end Luiji Vilain, linebacker Drew Singleton, linebacker Jordan Anthony, receiver Oliver Martin and four-star cornerback Benjamin St.-Juste.

“I think it’s important people know it takes a village and an entire program to recruit these top guys,” Partridge said. “The most important part about being the primary recruiter is to match these guys with the people on campus they need to talk to and the people most important to them and be the point guard on who they need to talk to.”

Partridge will admit that wearing the block M on his shirt doesn’t hurt as well.

“It’s a tremendous place,” Partridge said. “It’s all professionals. It’s a place where it’s not just about football, it’s about getting an education, it’s about being a great football player, it’s about competing every day in so many facets of life. It’s about being more and doing more and the network you get being at a place like Michigan, there is so many things.”

USC’s Tommie Robinson rallied to finish second and Florida State’s Odell Haggins was third, all separated by less than two points. Ohio State’s Kerry Coombs and Alabama’s Tosh Lupoi rounds out the top five.