This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Before the season began, the Pac-12 was summarized by national pundits as the conference of quarterbacks, with 10 starters returning and at least three viewed as potential first-round NFL Draft picks.

They'd rattle through the names — Oregon's Marcus Mariota, UCLA's Brett Hundley, Arizona State's Taylor Kelly, Oregon State's Sean Mannion — but few ever made their way to Arizona redshirt freshman Anu Solomon.

Some, understandably, may have never heard the name.

There's little doubt they have now.

Solomon stands just 6-foot-2, a sturdy 205. He doesn't possess astonishing straight-line speed, or uncanny arm strength. He isn't going to wow anybody at an NFL combine — he's got a few years before he needs to, but he wouldn't if it were held today.

It's just that, well, he's the leader of one of the nation's best offenses.

Solomon's "one of my favorites in the league," said Utah safeties coach Morgan Scalley. "He's a very good decision-maker. He does not panic under pressure. He stays alive. He keeps his eyes downfield."

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham compares him to Arizona State's Taylor Kelly and his Wildcat predecessor, B.J. Denker, but while Solomon is similarly agile, he much prefers a completion to a quarterback rush.

Probably his most distinctive feature is how unhurried he appears.

That he is almost nonsensically composed at so high a level is no shock, given context: Success and Solomon are not strangers.

He's 65-5 as a starter, dating back to his freshman year at Las Vegas prep powerhouse Bishop Gorman, where he played one year with Utah linebacker Marcus Sanders-Williams, before the latter transferred to Durango High.

Back then, Solomon was a "quiet kid," Sanders-Williams recalled. "Just likes to work. He lets his football do the talking."

Solomon was also close during his Pop Warner days with Utah left tackle Jeremiah Poutasi (who went on to play at Desert Pines High) and broke the Nevada career passing record that had been held by former Utah wide receiver DeVonte Christopher.

Another random Utah connection: When Solomon committed to Arizona (Utah was among his many suitors), he joined a list of Wildcat commitments that, at the time, included eventual Utah redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Cox.

Last year — for the first time, maybe, ever — Solomon watched. Denker totaled 3,465 yards and 29 touchdowns by air and ground, and this spring, the torch was passed.

Solomon has rewarded the confidence head coach Rich Rodriguez by ranking third in the supposed conference of quarterbacks in passing yards and leading game-winning drives against Cal, Oregon and last week against Washington.

He has also spread the wealth: Arizona has nine receivers with 100 or more yards, three with 466 or more, and 10 who have caught touchdown passes.

And while he's not the most vocal leader, he does other things to earn his teammates' respect. Rodriguez told reporters Monday that Solomon was playing through ankle soreness against the Huskies.

"He probably was not 100 percent and was probably hurt a little more than he let us know about," he said. "In fact, during the game on the one quarterback draw, he told me that his ankle was bothering him a little, but that he was OK and wanted to continue to play."

Solomon said Wednesday in a phone call with The Tribune that his ankle is "feeling good," and that with the season almost over, he owes it to the more-often-brutalized linemen and receivers to play through any pain.

It was about as much as the soft-spoken Solomon wanted to say about himself, and his train of thought still led to his teammates.

Asked if any Utah players have caught his eye, he said, "No. 8. Isn't he, like, the leader in sacks? He's just like the other No. 8 we saw last week."

Those two No. 8s are Utah senior defensive end Nate Orchard and Washington's Hau'oli Kikaha, who are tied for the nation's sack lead with 16.5.

Even with Solomon hobbled, Arizona kept Kikaha sackless for the first time this season.

The key against Orchard? "Trusting the pass protection and making sure I get the ball off quick enough," Solomon said.

He makes it sound easy. He's making it look easy, too.

Twitter: @matthew_piper —

No. 15 Arizona at No. 20 Utah

P Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

TV • ESPN