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FRESHMAN PASSING YARDS
NR — National rank. FR — Freshman rank
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FRESHMAN RUSHING YARDS
NR — National rank. FR — Freshman rank
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Anu Solomon is on pace to rewrite a few impressive records in Arizona’s record book
Arizona had its version of Washington State’s Connor Halliday in 1966, when “Marvelous” Mark Reed — reporters referred to him as that back then — led the nation in passing yards (2,368) and was second nationally in passing attempts (365) and completions (193).
The Wildcats finished 3-7 that year under coach Jim LaRue. Washington State is 2-5 headed into its game Saturday against No. 15 Arizona (5-1) at Pullman, Wash.
Halliday, a senior, leads the nation with 3,344 passing yards, completing 292 passes in 438 attempts. He is one of three Pac-12 quarterbacks in the top 10 nationally in passing yards.
Cal’s Jared Goff ranks No. 6 with 2,482 passing yards (177 of 273 pass attempts) and Arizona’s Anu Solomon is No. 9 with 2,136 (174 of 278). Solomon continues to top all freshmen nationally in passing yards.
Published Tucson Citizen photo of Mark Reed in 1966
Arizona has a history of quarterbacks who have finished in the top 10 nationally in passing yards, starting with Fred Enke Jr. finishing third with 1,406 in 1947. The others:
— 1958, Ralph Hunsaker, sixth with 1,129.
— 1961, Eddie Wilson, third with 1,294.
— 1966, Reed, first with 2,368.
— 2011, Nick Foles, fifth with school-record 4,334 yards.
Solomon is only a freshman. Reed was in his first year as a junior college transfer when he posted the phenomenal numbers — for that generation — in his first season with the Wildcats in 1966.
Enke Jr., Hunsaker, Wilson and Foles were all seniors when they were ranked in the top 10.
“Mentally he has been sharp,” Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said of Solomon this week. “Last game (against USC), Anu had 72 attempts and I had no idea. We aren’t really counting it, and we try to achieve balance between passing and running, but we are not trying to force balance.”
Arizona’s reliance on the run with freshman Nick Wilson and senior Terris Jones-Grigsby (both of whom are injured and questionable Saturday) combining for 873 yards makes Solomon’s production more impressive.
Arizona’s Brad Hubbert and Rick Johnson combined for a respectable 793 yards rushing in Reed’s prolific 1966 season.
Washington State ranks 124th out of 125 FBS teams averaging 44.7 yards rushing a game, which contributes to Halliday’s inflated stats.
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Note: Ronald Veal highlighted in red because he led Arizona in passing and rushing as a freshman in 1987.
MOST YARDS BY ARIZONA WILDCATS
FRESHMAN QB IN PAC-10/12 ERA
Compiled by AllSportsTucson.com
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TOP ARIZONA FRESHMAN RUSHERS
Compiled by AllSportsTucson.com
*Quarterbacks
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RUSHING YARDS PER CARRY
NR — National rank. FR — Freshman rank
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RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
NR — National rank. FR — Freshman rank
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RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
NR — National rank. FR — Freshman rank
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FRESHMAN PASS EFFICIENCY
NR — National rank. FR — Freshman rank
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FRESHMAN PASSING TDs
NR — National rank. FR — Freshman rank
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FRESHMAN PASSING YARDS PER COMPLETION
NR — National rank. FR — Freshman rank
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
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