Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon passed for 3,793 yards and 28 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman for the Wildcats, leading them to a spot in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State. He also rushed for 291 yards and a pair of touchdowns. This spring has seen Solomon look to improve in any way he can, and that appears to be paying off.
Solomon was one of the highlights of Arizona’s spring game Friday night in Tucson. The starting quarterback completed 19 of 25 attempts for 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and rushed three times for an additional 20 yards. His decision-making could still use some improvement, head coach Rich Rodriguez noted after the game, but the promise is still there.
“He was pretty sharp. There were a couple of times he probably could’ve been a little more decisive in his throws but Anu is a smart guy,” Rodriguez told reporters Friday night after the spring game. “He’s gotten better and, with a great summer, I think he will be even better come this fall.”
Solomon is still young, so there is still a learning curve at play. This spring, he knew what he needed to work on after an impressive redshirt freshman debut.
“Game management and making sure I am keeping an eye on the down and distance, and what kind of situation it is,” Solomon said Friday night. “If we are down by eight on fourth-and-15, and I throw the ball away, that is something I have to work on. I am still struggling with that, but what I am doing now is getting in the film room with Coach (Rod Smith) and working.”
His work is not going unrecognized by his teammates either. Arizona wide receiver David Richards, who caught two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown in Arizona’s Friday night spring game, complimented Solomon’s work this spring.
“I think Anu has developed more and he knows the offense, its ins and outs, and knows the right decisions to make on each play,” Richards said. “Every time I go past the weight room, (Anu) is in there, and I think he is doing a great job of being a leader.”
Arizona’s offense is going to be in good hands with Solomon.
Quotes via Arizona Athletics.