Coaches love competition.
Rich Rodriguez is certainly no different.
After wrapping up spring football workouts late last month the Arizona Wildcats head into the summer not knowing who will play quarterback when the ‘Cats open the 2016 season against BYU and that’s not a bad thing according to Rodriguez.
“It’s an open competition, I don’t make [any] bones about it,” Rodriguez told Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “If you’ve got two guys who you think you can win with, let ’em compete.”
The incumbent, junior Anu Solomon has been a mainstay since taking the reins his freshman season but has struggled at times to stay healthy. His backup Brandon Dawkins amassed over 400 total yards and three touchdowns in just over a half against Arizona State.
Like all position battles, the ‘Cats have the luxury of waiting to see what develops when the team reconvenes for camp later this summer but knows both quarterbacks offer unique skill sets moving forward. Solomon is the more polished signal-caller amassing more than 6,000 career passing yards and 48 touchdowns. Both made progress and improved this spring according to Rodriguez.
“Certainly Anu is not going backwards,” he explained. “I think Brandon Dawkins is getting better. The best guy will play.”
Regardless of who is named the starter, Rodriquez believes both could get playing time this fall after each took extended reps in the spring.
Eric Sorenson
