Solomon Page

Solomon Page (born February 27, 1976) is a former American football guard and tackle of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia.

Early years

Page was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he attended Brashear High School and was an All-city selection.

College career

Page then attended Hargrave Military Academy before transferring to West Virginia University.

West Virginia University

After transferring to WVU, Page was red-shirted for his first season.

While at WVU, Page was a three-year start at left tackle. As a redshirt freshman, he graded out at 84% consistency, becoming just the 11th freshman since 1980 to earn a spot in the Mountaineer Club for players who grade at least 80 percent at their position in at least eight games. As a sophomore, he earned All-Big East honors as a sophomore for an offense that amassed 4,602 yards. As a junior, he was an All-Big East selection while grading out at 89% consistency for an offense that generated 5,546 total yards.

During his career at West Virginia, Page helped to anchor an offensive line that helped the offense produced at least 300 yards in each of his final 21 career games. He also helped All-American running back Amos Zereoue become the school and Big East's all-time leading rusher (4,054 yards) and quarterback Marc Bulger become the school's career passing yards leader (5,995). While at WVU, Page was an athletic coaching education major.

Professional career

NFL Draft

Page was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second-round (55th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft.

Dallas Cowboys

Page made his NFL debut against the Arizona Cardinals on October 3, it was also his first professional start, as a replacement at right tackle for injured starter Erik Williams. Beginning on November 21, Page started five consecutive games at left guard replacing injured starter Larry Allen. As a rookie, Page helped the Cowboys offensive line allow just 24 sacks, the second fewest in the NFL,^[1] while allowing one or fewer sacks in nine-of-16 games. In addition, the offensive line helped running back Emmitt Smith to his highest single-season rushing total (1,397) since 1995.^[2]

In 2000, Page began the season as the starting right guard and was part of an offensive line that surrendered 35 sacks, only 12 teams allowed fewer on the season.^[3] In the opener against Philadelphia, he started the game at right guard but was shifted to right tackle after start Erik Williams was ejected. Later in the season on December 10, against the Washington Redskins Page started at guard but moved to right tackle again when Williams suffered a neck injury early in the second half. In 2000, Page was part of a unit the allowed just four sacks of quarterback Troy Aikman in his last 172 career passing attempts.

After starting at right guard in 2000, Page moved to right tackle to replace former starter Erik Williams who had left to play for the Baltimore Ravens. In 2001, Page was part of an offensive line that helped the Cowboys finish third in the league in rushing with 136.5 yards-per-game. The offensive line also helped Emmitt Smith rush for a league record 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season, while he also moved into second place on the NFL's all-time career rushing list with 16,187 career yards. The offensive line also allowed just 34 sacks in 447 pass plays on the season.^[4] Just 12 teams allowed fewer sacks for the year and only eight teams lost fewer yards due to sacks than the 190 lost by the Cowboys.^[4]

It is believed 2002 was the first time a NFL franchise had five African American starters on their offensive line, when the Cowboys lined up rookie center Andre Gurode, tackles Flozell Adams and Page, guards Larry Allen and Kelvin Garmon.^[5] That season he started and appeared in 15 games. He also became part of history as the starting guard on the Cowboys offensive line that helped Emmitt Smith eclipse Walter Payton as the NFL's all-time leading rusher, playing against the Seattle Seahawks on October 27.

San Diego Chargers

In 2003, Page left the Cowboys and signed with the San Diego Chargers. In his one season with the Chargers, he played in nine games, with eight starts at right guard, and helped the team rush for 2,146 and pass for 3,226, sixth and 22nd in the league respectively.^[6]

New York Giants

In August 2004, Page signed with the New York Giants.^[7] However, he was released prior to the start of the season.

Post football

Page is currently an offensive line coach at Carrollton Christian Academy in Carrollton, Texas.

See also

• List of Dallas Cowboys players

References