NFL.com writer: Arizona’s Anu Solomon a Heisman Trophy candidate for 2015
May 18, 2015, 1:05 PM | Updated: 1:05 pm
Anu Solomon had a very solid 2014 season.
A redshirt freshman, he led Arizona to 10 wins, a Pac-12 South title and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.
Solomon faded a bit down the stretch as he battled an ankle injury, and gave Rich Rodriguez enough reason to, back in April, say he was not a lock to be the team’s starting quarterback in 2015.
Since then, Solomon put together a good spring camp and an excellent spring game, seemingly reaffirming his role as the guy.
Solomon has done enough, actually, to where NFL.com’s Mike Hugenin, when listing 15 Heisman Trophy candidates for 2015, has the redshirt sophomore 13th on the list.
Particulars: 6-2, 205, sophomore
The skinny: Solomon won Arizona’s quarterback battle as a redshirt freshman, then turned in a big season, with 4,084 yards of total offense. Expect him to be more of a running threat this fall, but his passing ability will remain the strong suit of his game. He threw for 3,793 yards and 28 TDs last season, and should improve on both numbers.
It helps that Solomon’s surrounding cast is quite good, too.
Though the ‘Cats lost some offensive linemen along with receiver Austin Hill, they return 2014’s leading pass catcher, Cayleb Jones, along with running back Nick Wilson, who as a true freshman ran for 1,375 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Solomon is not the only Pac-12 player on the list, as Oregon RB Royce Freeman (10) and USC QB Cody Kessler (7) are also in the top 15.