Penn coach pleased with the return of Tre Solomon
Just how badly Penn missed running back Tre Solomon after he went down with a knee injury last season is reflected in a few numbers.
Just how badly Penn missed running back Tre Solomon after he went down with a knee injury last season is reflected in a few numbers.
Before he suffered a season-ending knee injury that limited him to just four games, Solomon, then a freshman, still managed to finish the 2014 season second on the team with 198 kick return yards. And through those four games, before suffering a torn ACL, the Brooklyn native was the top running back on the squad, averaging 5.8 yards a carry.
The health of Solomon's surgically repaired knee was one of the biggest offseason concerns for new Penn (0-1) coach Ray Priore, who kept his workload light in training camp. However, Priore and the coaching staff felt relieved on Saturday to see the explosive 6-foot, 200-pounder and other players with limited experience have good performances for Penn in their 42-21 season-opening loss at Lehigh. The Quakers play at No. 6 Villanova (2-1) Thursday.
"I've been really, really pleased with what I've seen from Tre," Priore said of Solomon, who gained 89 yards on 11 carries. "They say that the first year back after that injury you're just back and then another year to get back to form. But he looks explosive. I'd like to really see him run around some guys instead of taking on the safety. But that's a sign that he's confident."
Solomon also caught four passes for 31 yards for a total of 120 all-purpose yards.
Priore knew that his first season at Penn would be a difficult one. He was aware that he's going to need to rely on some young players to emerge an flourish, and early on there are signs that there is something there.
Fellow sophomore receiver Justin Watson, who last year set the Penn freshman record with 42 receptions for 497 yards, had 10 catches for 143 yards. And freshman receiver Christian Pearson's lone catch was a 45-yard touchdown from Alek Torgersen. That score earned him Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors.
On defense, sophomore linebackers Colton Moskal – a Syracuse transfer – and Ephraim lee combined for 19 tackles. Freshman Mason Williams recorded the Quakers' lone sack, and freshman Nick Miller had in interception.
"We've seen some good things from our younger guys and that's good because they are going to have to be productive for us this season," Priore said.
Dating back to 1980, the No. 6 Wildcats have won 14 straight over the Quakers, and Penn last beat the Wildcats on Oct. 14, 1911. However, the Wildcats will be without reigning Walter Payton award-winning quarterback John Robertson, out indefinitely with a completely torn PCL. In his place they are starting redshirt freshman Zach Bednarczyk.
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