2016 Sun Bowl: Six players to watch for UNC-Stanford

Nov 5, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora leads his players onto the field before the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 48-20. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

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Solomon Thomas

The Cardinal features one of the best defenses in the country. The front line of Stanford features big defensive end Solomon Thomas. Thomas, a sophomore, was one of the most sought after recruits in high school, a consensus five-star player.

Oct 15, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (90) celebrates after a tackle in the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins in a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Thomas leads the Stanford team in sacks, and has thirteen tackles for loss, which is tops on the team.

Anytime the Heels run the ball, there is a good chance Thomas could get his hands on the running back.

Thomas is great at getting through the offensive line, and getting in the backfield.

Thomas is going to have his hands full with trying to get to Mitch Trubisky.

In the Georgia game, which featured the best defense Trubisky has seen this season, it appeared early that he was rushed. If the Cardinal is going to have any success at speeding Trubisky up, it will come from Thomas’ ability to get to the QB.

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