ARIZONA FOOTBALL

Arizona Wildcats coach Rodriguez: Anu Solomon needs to take the next step

Mar 3, 2015, 11:42 PM | Updated: 11:42 pm

Follow @theAdamGreen...

For the first time since he became Arizona’s head coach in 2011, Rich Rodriguez has the luxury of a returning starter at the quarterback position.

Last year, redshirt freshman Anu Solomon threw for 3,793 yards and 28 touchdowns with just nine interceptions while also tallying 291 yards and two scores on the ground. He led the Wildcats to a 10-win season that included a Territorial Cup victory over rival Arizona State as well as a Pac-12 South championship and berth in the Vizio Fiesta Bowl.

Matt Scott and B.J. Denker, the quarterbacks before Solomon, each only had one year as the team’s starter. Solomon, if he keeps the job, would be the first under RichRod to get a second.

With the Wildcats are set to open spring practices Wednesday in Tucson, there would appear to be one less position to worry about.

“Anu’s got to get better in a lot of facets, just like everybody else,” Rodriguez said Tuesday. “He should have some confidence because he played really well at times. Take the next step as far as cleaning up the things that he maybe did not do as well or as consistent last year.

“He’s a competitive guy. With he and Jerrard (Randall) and then in particular, Brandon Dawkins and Zach (Werlinger) are the two young guys, so this will be a big spring for them because all four of those guys will get a lot of reps.”

Randall, a former LSU quarterback, appeared in four games for Arizona last season, failing to complete any of his three passes while turning 15 rushing attempts into 104 yards and one touchdown. Dawkins redshirted last year, his freshman season, as did Werlinger.

But while Rodriguez may not have come out and said it, it’s hard to imagine Solomon is not the heavy favorite to be the team’s QB in 2015.

Though he struggled a bit down the stretch — especially in losses to Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game and Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl — he also had a handful of excellent games, including five-touchdown performances in wins over California and Washington State. And though his numbers against Arizona State were not gaudy, his QB rating of 186.1 that afternoon was his second-highest mark of the season.

“We know that Anu has done it in the big stage and we also know that Jerrard has gotten some experience and can do it,” he said. “But, that being said, we have to play better. We played well at times last year with that but there were times where inexperience showed up and that’s our job as coaches to make sure that everybody gets better, but particularly that position because it’s so important for our success.”

Arizona Football

Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan #4 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates with Noah Fifita #11 after ca...

Arizona Sports

ESPN’s Rittenberg: Arizona Wildcats’ QB room ranks 10th in nation

Led by the final Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Noah Fifita, the Arizona Wildcats' quarterback room was ranked 10th in the nation.

2 days ago

Grand Canyon forward Duke Brennan...

Vincent DeAngelis

Duke Brennan uses inspiration from family and high motor to propel GCU basketball

Grand Canyon's Duke Brennan has strong Arizona connections and comes from a family of athletes in Colt and Brent Brennan.

10 days ago

Jordan Morgan...

Arizona Sports

Arizona OL, potential 1st-round pick Jordan Morgan shows off speed at NFL Draft Combine

Arizona left tackle Jordan Morgan had the opportunity to show off his speed and athleticism at the NFL Combine on Sunday.

15 days ago

Jacob Cowing...

Arizona Sports

Arizona’s Jacob Cowing shows off elite speed at NFL Scouting Combine

NFL Draft prospect Jacob Cowing from Arizona put up one of the fastest 40-yard dash times among wide receivers at the combine.

16 days ago

An empty podium is seen at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by...

David Veenstra

What to watch for: 2024 NFL Scouting Combine schedule, preview and more

The NFL Scouting Combine begins this week in Indianapolis. Here's a complete guide for college and professional fans across Arizona.

21 days ago

Quarterback Jayden de Laura #7 prepares for a game at Arizona Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Tucson...

Tom Kuebel

Former Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura declares for NFL Draft

Jayden de Laura declared for the NFL Draft and will forego his fifth season of college football eligibility.

25 days ago

Arizona Wildcats coach Rodriguez: Anu Solomon needs to take the next step