The Arizona quarterback who could be benched is an “elite” college football player, according to a prominent analytical website.
Pro Football Focus recently released a list of 10 “elite” players on “non-contending” teams in Power Five conferences. Atop that list: Wildcats QB Anu Solomon, who faces a training-camp battle for his job.
UA coach Rich Rodriguez has made it abundantly clear that Solomon must fend off redshirt sophomore Brandon Dawkins to remain Arizona’s starting quarterback. Rodriguez said putting the two on nearly equal footing – they will split first-team reps when camp opens a week from Thursday – is more about what Dawkins has done right than what Solomon has done wrong.
While a segment of the UA fanbase believes a QB change would be beneficial – the starting quarterback is the second-easiest person to blame for a team’s failures, behind the head coach – PFF makes a compelling case for the incumbent:
"Although he appears to be in a preseason battle for the starting position, QB Anu Solomon was clearly Arizona’s best player last year and has the ninth-highest returning passing grade in FBS this season (No. 1 in the Pac-12). He was at his best on intermediate passes in 2015, as he was 36 of 57 for nine touchdowns and just one interception on throws between 11 and 20 yards downfield. He also produced extremely well against the blitz, throwing seven touchdowns to just one interception."
PFF suggested that Dawkins’ “upside as an athlete” is the primary impetus for the possible QB switch, citing his superior running ability. The site asserts that Solomon is “clearly one of the better passers in the country, and there are very few teams on which he would not start.”
And to think – Arizona might be one of them.
The analysts at PFF aren’t the only ones bullish on Solomon. Lindy’s college football preview magazine ranks the redshirt junior as the 24th-best quarterback in the nation. Athlon Sports has Solomon 29th.
One more note on Solomon: He has been named to the watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota was the inaugural recipient in 2014. Notre Dame tackle Ronnie Stanley won the award last season.
