Will Muschamp lingered in the South End Zone meeting room as Solomon Patton strolled in just minutes removed from a stellar night in The Swamp.
After Patton’s 124-yard, two-touchdown performance, Muschamp quipped, “Stand up, Solomon. We can’t see you.”
Media members and team personnel cackled. Muschamp then gave the floor to his senior wide receiver. Patton barely had a chance to sit down before recorders, notebooks and cameras swarmed the self-proclaimed fastest man on the team. With yet another dynamic performance, Patton is becoming a popular player these days.
It’s time he gets the ball more. Redshirt junior Quinton Dunbar represents Florida’s most complete receiver. Freshman Demarcus Robinson might have the most raw talent. But Patton makes the most plays.
Here’s how Florida can take better advantage of its playmaking receiver, who is knocked for being three inches too short and 20 pounds too light: Put Patton in the slot, where he can work against a linebacker and a No. 3 cornerback. Senior slot receiver Trey Burton, who is productive as well, can take on a receiving tight end, H-back role.
The Gators motion Patton in the backfield for reverses, end-arounds and sweeps, but a move inside would change this offense. Burton would continue catching first downs and Patton would get the ball more in space. A young receiver like Robinson could develop opposite Dunbar.
Through five games, Patton’s 348 yards and four touchdowns lead the Gators. Other than Patton, only Burton has a touchdown from the receiver position. Each score from Patton has been for 20 or more yards.
He creates havoc in any defense with the slightest tackling deficiency. Both touchdowns against Arkansas came on hitch routes.
“Because of the run game, we’ve created a lot of one-on-ones, and he’s a slippery guy,” Muschamp said. “One missed tackle and it could be the distance. When you have guys like that that are able to make those sorts of plays, it changes your thought process as a defensive coordinator. Playing all that bump-and-run, man-to-man is great until you miss a tackle. There’s nobody left.”
Arkansas cornerback Tevin Mitchel missed initial tackles on both touchdowns by Patton. The junior whiffed badly on Patton’s 38-yard and 51-yard touchdowns. Patton looked three steps faster than the Razorbacks. In a game in which the Gators’ running backs averaged 3 yards a carry, his speed made the difference.
Patton had eight touches Saturday night. He averages 15 yards a play either on the ground or through the air.
It’s when he’s one-on-one that catches his eye.
“I get excited because, you know, with my speed going against some of these DBs, we watch film on them. We know what they can do and what they can’t do,” Patton said. “We just try to take advantage of them one-on-one.”
Patton’s evolution from special teamer to offensive gimmick to bona fide receiving threat has been impressive. More surprising is that it all happened at the same school.
He thought about transferring. He spurned Alabama for Florida out of high school in 2010 only to have one reception in 10 games his freshman year. Patton had just eight catches for 79 yards in three seasons. Three blocked kicks remained his biggest contribution until lighting up Miami for six catches and 118 yards on Sept. 7.
After juking three Arkansas defenders for his 38-yard touchdown in the third quarter, Patton blew a kiss to the students in the North end zone — a fitting tribute to a career that’s finally reaping its rewards. Patton, always humble, was appreciative of his hot start.
It’s clear Patton has become the go-to playmaker. Muschamp had it wrong about him Saturday night.
We see him fine. Just not how we should.
Follow Adam Pincus on Twitter @adamDpincus.
Florida wide receiver Solomon Patton celebrates after a touchdown during the Gators' 30-10 win against the Razorbacks on Saturday night in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
