How a Number Inspires a Team While Keeping a Memory Alive
By: Jon Fuller
Solomon Jackson led by example with his vigorous work ethic and team-first mentality all behind an infectious smile and big personality. He was a football player loved by every one of his teammates and coaches.
A native of Stone Mountain, GA, Jackson first stepped on campus in 2013 and spent three seasons with the Bulls as a linebacker.
He was improving as a player and coming off his best year as a Bull in 2015. A team veteran entering his fourth season on the squad, Jackson was surely going to play a more prominent role in 2016.
Unfortunately, he never got that opportunity.
Jackson collapsed during an offseason workout on Feb. 22, 2016. He was rushed to the hospital but never regained consciousness and passed away one week later.
The news was devastating to the football program.
To help keep Jackson's memory alive, then head coach Lance Leipold consulted with Solomon's parents, Steve and Jakki, and the decision was made to ask cornerback Boise Ross if he wanted to wear 41 for the 2016 season. As Jackson's roommate and close friend, Ross was honored to swap his No. 1 jersey for 41 for his final season with the Bulls.
Boise Ross
"It affected all of us deeply, but Boise was one of the ones who took it the hardest," Leipold said after choosing Ross to wear the number. "Solomon was helping Boise grow as a person. Since his death, Boise has taken great strides on and off the field."
That tradition continued for the 2017 campaign as linebacker and team captain Jarrett Franklin earned the privilege to wear 41 for the entire season.
"It is a blessing and an honor to wear Solo's number," Franklin said upon learning he was chosen to wear the number. "I am going to do everything I can to honor him. It means coming out every day with a smile on my face, ready to practice, ready to play and bringing teammates along with me."
Ahead of the 2018 season, the decision was made to award the 41 jersey to players on an individual game basis as a reward for outstanding work on and off the field.
That's when the legend of No. 41 took off.
"I felt like Superman," defensive end Chuck Harris said of wearing 41 following a dominant performance in a 35-28 victory over Eastern Michigan on Sept. 15, 2018. Harris had the best game of his career that night, finishing with eight tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
A week earlier, cornerback Cam Lewis wore the number and had two interceptions at Temple to help the Bulls win a big nonconference matchup over the Owls.
Every week, players were stepping up their games when they were assigned 41.
Along with career games, wearing the 41 jersey resulted in many firsts.
Linebacker James Patterson wore it in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl and recorded his first career interception.
Wide receiver Jovany Ruiz caught his first career touchdown pass against Miami (OH) in 2020 while wearing it.
Fullback Jake Molinich had played in 39 career games without scoring a touchdown. He scored his first career touchdown against Wagner while wearing 41 in the opener to the 2021 campaign.
Running backs have posted some of the most notable performances.
Kevin Marks rushed for a career-high 182 yards and two touchdowns against Akron in 2020. Dylan McDuffie rushed for a career-high 166 yards and two touchdowns against Bowling Green in 2021. In 2022, Mike Washington rushed for a career-high 155 yards and two scores, including a 92-yard touchdown, the second-longest run in program history, in a win at Bowling Green. Jaret Patterson
While impressive, those performances paled in comparison to what Jaret Patterson did against Kent State on Nov. 28, 2020. With 41 stitched on his royal blue jersey, Patterson had not only the best game in UB football history but one of the greatest single game performances in the history of college football, rushing for 409 yards and eight touchdowns against the Golden Flashes. He tied the NCAA record for rushing touchdowns in a game and his 409 yards were second all time.
"I hadn't worn the number in all my years here and I was nervous when they first asked me to wear it," Patterson said after his historic performance. "It's a blessing to wear that number, so I told the coaches I would wear it and I hope I made his family proud."
All told, 75 different players have worn 41 over the last 10 seasons. 17 players wore 41 for more than one game. 12 players wore it twice and four players, Jaylon Bass, Shaun Dolac, James Patterson and Mike Washington wore it three times. Red Murdock holds the record with four games of wearing 41.
While wearing 41 in the 2024 Bahamas Bowl, Murdock had 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a 31-yard pick six (the first of his career), en route to earning game MVP honors.
The tradition started under Coach Leipold in 2016 and has continued through current head coach Pete Lembo.
Lembo announces who will wear 41 at the end of practice each Thursday. And every week it is welcomed with a raucous round of applause. While none of the current players knew Solomon, they understand the importance of the number and it is a great source of pride to wear it.
It's been 10 years since his passing, but a day doesn't go by without a reminder of what Solomon meant to the program. The No. 41 is predominantly displayed throughout the Murchie Family Football Facility, and a framed photo of the late linebacker hangs in Coach Lembo's office.
While Solomon was a leader off the field, he looked to make his biggest impact on it. Since his untimely passing in 2016, his No. 41 continues to make big plays every week, keeping his memory alive.
Notable Performances While Wearing 41
2018
Cam Lewis at Temple – career-best 2 interceptions
Chuck Harris vs. Eastern Michigan – 8 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, FF
KJ Osborn at Central Michigan – 4 receptions, 80 yards
2019
James Patterson vs. Charlotte (Bahamas Bowl) – first career interception
2020
Jovany Ruiz vs. Miami (OH) – First career TD catch
Jaret Patterson vs. Kent State – 409 yards, 8 TDs (career high and school record)
Kevin Marks vs. Akron – 182 yards, 2 TDs (career high)
Antonio Nunn vs. Ball State – 13 rec., 182 yards (T-school record)
2021
Jake Molinich vs. Wagner – First career touchdown
Kyle Vantrease at Akron – 241 yards passing, 3 TDs, rushing TD
Dylan McDuffie vs. Bowling Green – 166 yards, 2 TDs (career high)
2022
Mike Washington at Bowling Green – 155 yards, 2 TDs, 92-yard TD run (2nd longest in school history)
Justin Marshall at UMass – 3 rec., 75 yards, 49-yard TD
Isaiah King vs. Toledo – Career-high 11 tackles, FF, FR
2023
Marlyn Johnson vs. Fordham – 7 rec., 105 yards, 2 TD (career highs)
2024 Al-Jay Henderson at NIU – game-tying 36-yard TD in fourth quarter at NIU
JJ Jenkins vs. Ball State – 8 rec., 131 yards, game-tying 49-yard TD late to force OT Red Murdock vs. Liberty (Bahamas Bowl) – 13 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 FF, 31-yard pick six
Players who have worn 41 2016
Boise Ross, CB
2017
Jarrett Franklin, LB
2018
Brandon Williams, S, vs. Delaware State
Cam Lewis, CB, at Temple
Chuck Harris, DE, vs. Eastern Michigan
Justin Brandon, DT, at Rutgers
Tyler Mabry, TE, vs. Army
K.J. Osborn, WR, at Central Michigan
Tyree Jackson, QB, vs. Akron
Jordan Collier, LB, at Toledo
Myles Nicholas, DE, vs. Miami (OH)
Jake Khoury, DT, at Ohio
Matt Otwinowski, LB, at Bowling Green
Chuck Harris, DE, vs. Northern Illinois
Myles Nicholas, DE, vs. Troy
2019
Taylor Riggins, DE, vs. Robert Morris
Matt Otwinowksi, LB, at Penn State
Ledarius Mack, DE, at Liberty
Dominic Johnson, WR, vs. Temple
Jake Molinich, FB, at Miami (OH)
Dev Lamour, S, vs. Ohio
Kyle Vantrease, QB, at Akron
Tyrone Hill, S, vs. Central Michigan
Kadofi Wright, LB, at Eastern Michigan
Zac Lefebvre, TE, at Kent State
Joey Banks, S, Toledo
Malcolm Koonce, DE, vs. Bowling Green
James Patterson, LB, Charlotte
2020
Evan Finegan, K, at Northern Illinois
Jovany Ruiz, WR, vs. Miami (OH)
Eric Black, DE, at Bowling Green
Jaret Patterson, RB, vs. Kent State
Kevin Marks, RB, vs. Akron
Antonio Nunn, WR vs. Ball State
Zac Lefebvre, TE, vs. Marshall
2021
Jake Molinich, FB, vs. Wagner
Taylor Riggins, DE, at Nebraska
James Patterson, LB, vs. Coastal Carolina
Dominic Johnson, WR, at Old Dominion
Aapri Washington, CB, vs. Western Michigan
Quian Williams, WR, at Kent State
Ron Cook, RB, vs. Ohio
Kyle Vantrease, QB, at Akron
Dylan McDuffie, RB, vs. Bowling Green
Matt Myers, QB, at Miami (OH)
Keith Woetzel, LB, vs. Northern Illinois
Shaun Dolac, LB, at Ball State
2022
Logic Hudgens, CB, at Maryland
C.J. Bazile, DE, vs. Holy Cross
Caleb Tate, LB, at Coastal Carolina
Marlyn Johnson, WR, at Eastern Michigan
James Patterson, LB, vs. Miami (OH)
Mike Washington, RB, at Bowling Green
Justin Marshall, WR, at Massachusetts
Isaiah King, CB, vs. Toledo
Marcus Fuqua, S, at Ohio
Jaylon Bass, DT, at Central Michigan
Shaun Dolac, LB, vs. Kent State
Mike Washington, RB, vs. Akron
Jaylon Bass, DT, vs. Georgia Southern
2023
Mike Washington, RB, at Wisconsin
Marlyn Johnson, WR, vs. Fordham Red Murdock, LB, vs. Liberty
Joe Andreessen, LB, at Louisiana
Cole Snyder, QB, at Akron
Max Michel, DE, vs. Central Michigan
Daymond Williams, DT, vs. Bowling Green
Ron Cook, RB, at Kent State
Jyaire Stevens, DE, at Toledo
Jaylon Bass, DT, vs. Ohio
Cole Harrity, WR, at Miami (OH) George Wolo, DT, vs. Eastern Michigan
2024 Red Murdock, LB, vs. Lafayette
Jake Orlando, TE, at Missouri George Wolo, DT, vs. Massachusetts Al-Jay Henderson, RB, at Northern Illinois Dion Crawford, Edge, at UConn
Charles McCartherens, CB, vs. Toledo
Shaun Dolac, LB, vs. Western Michigan
Taji Johnson, WR, at Ohio
Daishon Folsom, DT, at Akron
J.J. Jenkins, WR, vs. Ball State Victor Snow, WR, at Eastern Michigan
Jake Orlando, TE, vs. Kent State Red Murdock, LB, vs. Liberty
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