How Jojo Solis committed to Cal football as only a sophomore
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (BVM) 鈥�Jojo Solis was just six years old when he attended his first football practice. Going into it, he was not sure if football would be for him. But by the end of the day, he realized that it was a perfect fit.
鈥淚 loved it,鈥� Solis said. 鈥淚 loved the intensity of it. It was rough and I was a rough kid.鈥�
Years later, he still plays rough.
Now a sophomore, Solis is a bruising running back for Aquinas High School. Despite his age, he already has made a name for himself as one of the better runners in the entire country. has Solis as the No. 89 player in the 2025 class.
JoJo Solis with a 1-yard touchdown run for Aquinas. PAT good. Game tied at 7 with 3:03 left in the first quarter.
— James H. Williams covers UCLA football (@JHWreporter)
Solis burst onto the scene his freshman year with a Madden-like stat line of 2,088 yards and 35 touchdowns on the ground. But for the young running back, it was more so his adjustment to varsity football that stands out when looking back.
The experience of being a part of a locker room, having daily practice, and all of the other small things that get intensified as you move up the totem pole of football is what drew Solis even closer to the game.
鈥淚 fell in love with it,鈥� Solis said. 鈥淚t opened my eyes. I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.鈥�
To no surprise, the recruiting process started early on for Solis. And following his sophomore year, he announced his commitment to Cal football.
I am extremely blessed and honored to announce, I have made an early commitment to the University of California Berkeley. I want to thank God, my family and my coaches for being able to accomplish this. TAKING IT TO THE BAY!! 馃惢馃惢馃惢
— Jojo (@jusyis3)
鈥淲hen I went out there, they showed me the most love,鈥� Solis said. 鈥淭hey made it feel like a place you want to be.鈥�
His commitment is also a mile marker. Pledging to a Pac-12 school is one of many steps for Solis and it shows that he is on the right track to accomplishing something special.
鈥淚t shows all the hard work that I have put in is getting noticed and looked at and other people are starting to see it,鈥� Solis said. 鈥淚t shows that you can really prove the world wrong if you just put the work in. Don鈥檛 let what other people have to say get into your head because at the end of the day, you can go as far as you can tell yourself you can go.鈥�
Not many high school sophomores are already committed to Power 5 schools. Many in that situation may allow that to get to their head, but not Solis thanks to his supporting cast that has helped him along the way.
鈥淚 have people around me that keep my head right and keep me where I need to be,鈥� Solis said. 鈥淭hey make sure I鈥檓 focused on what I need to be focused on.鈥�
And at the end of the day, Solis鈥� main goal is to make those same people proud of the man that he has and will become.
鈥淚 just want to make my family proud,鈥� Solis said. 鈥淚 want to make my parents proud because of all the sacrifices they鈥檝e made just for me to chase my dream.鈥�