Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez on QB Anu Solomon: ‘He’s reacting even quicker now’
Oct 28, 2014, 3:29 AM | Updated: 3:29 am
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Pac-12, head coach Rich Rodriguez and his Arizona Wildcats sit with a 6-1 record and are tied for second place in the South division.
The team is led by freshman quarterback, Anu Solomon, who is turning out to be one of the top passers in the nation.
“Well I just think it’s the experience,” Rodriguez told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Monday. “I think every game he learns a little bit more.
“We’re seeing some different coverages and different ways people are defending us. He’s always done a pretty good job seeing the field, but he’s reacting even quicker now than he was a couple of weeks ago. I think he’s going to keep getting better.”
Solomon has completed 200 of 316 passes on the season, a 63.3 percent completion rate. He has 2,430 passing yards, putting him 12th in the country. The freshman has also thrown 20 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
Rodriguez said Solomon was one of the biggest reasons why the Wildcats were so good on third downs in their 59-37 win over Washington State last Saturday.
“Anu was really sharp: He was seeing the field. I was pretty proud of the way they responded on the road,” the coach said.
Against the Cougars, Solomon threw for 294 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. Saturday was his fourth game without a pick this season, and his second five-touchdown performance.
With Solomon at the helm, the Wildcats rank eighth in the country for passing yards, and 13th in points scored.
Arizona faces its next big test Saturday in a road game against UCLA.