A member of the Scout 300, Solomon Patton (5-9/170/4.4) of Mobile, Ala. had his choice of colleges across the south and beyond when he chose the Florida Gators.
Solomon brings a host of options with him to Florida because of his versatility as an athlete.
Patton’s balance may be his best attribute. His balance combines with his strength gives coaches a lot of options for getting the ball into his hands from the return game, to end-arounds, to direct snaps and handoffs out of the backfield.
It’s a common site to see a play ended, not because Patton was tackled, but because he was eventually forced out of bounds after several tacklers slid off of him.
Patton has the distinction of being both quick AND fast. He can make several players miss in traffic, or he can burst through a seam, pin his ears back and not look back until he scores.
He is more than just a slash type of athlete that coaches have to scheme ways to get the ball in his hands. He is a capable receiver who runs crisp routes, elevates well down field to catch the ball in traffic and uses his body well to shield would-be defenders. He does a very good job of catching the ball with his hands rather than his body as the situation dictates.
While it would be unfair to say he can be Percy Harvin for the Florida Gators, it’s easy to see Patton getting similar touches. Another Gator whose role Patton can help fill as he moves on in return man Brandon James.
Patton is an explosive athlete whose strength and balance enable him to make plays in traffic normally reserved for bigger players. His speed and elusiveness make him a threat anywhere on the field.