Solomon has strong spring performance
BOCARATON— Florida Atlantic receiver Kamrin Solomon watched the play “millions of times,” he said. At first, it was to see if the officials got it wrong. Then, it became a confidence booster.
The play was the final one of FAU’s loss against Charlotte last season, an overturned touchdown catch that would have won the game for the Owls. Along the sideline in the end zone, Solomon leapt to meet Jason Driskel’s heave. He secured the ball, but officials ruled that his left foot did not land in bounds.
Solomon maintains the play should have been a touchdown, but the replays soonbecamea learning tool. They taught him a lesson in positive thinking and visualization that helped the senior complete spring football as arguably the most improved Owl.
“Just seeing things and playing that through your head, playing positive things in your head so you always have a positive outlook on things,” Solomon said. “When the ball’s in the air, you can’t be like ‘Oh, am I about to drop this?’ or ‘Oh, I need to catch it.’ It’s ‘Oh, this is mine. That’s my ball. I’m going to go get it.’ ”
Solomon appeared on FAU coach Lane Kiffin’s radar early this spring, earning MVP honors in the second practice and again in the spring’s final week. Quarterbacks Jason Driskel (“I think Kam Solomon has had a fantastic spring.”) and De’Andre Johnson (“Kam is just electric now.”) immediately identified him as a spring standout. Solomon capped spring practice with a solid spring game Saturday, notching five receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown.
In new offensive coordinatorKendal Briles’ offense, Solomon shifted from being an outside receiver to becoming a slot receiver. Instead of being matched up against cornerbacks, he’ll likely draw more linebackers and safeties.
“I played slot in high school, so I’ve always wanted to get back to slot,” Solomon said. “With the previous coaching staff, they felt like I was better outside. At the end of the day, if that’s how they feel, you got to play it.”
Last season, in 11 games, he had just 12 catches for 69 yards and zero touchdowns. Itwas a sharp drop fromhis sophomore year, when he posted 382 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
When asked about his 2016 season, Solomon was quick to offer a description. “Nonexistent,” he said. After the season ended and FAUfired former coach Charlie Partridge, Solomon said he took two or three weeks off away from football. There was no running routes and no film. Instead, Solomon simply returned to Jacksonville and his family.
“No nothing,” Solomon said. “Just went and spent time with my family. When I am able to go home and spend time with my family, my mom, my dad, my sister, that’s when I can clear my mind and get away from everything.”
Solomon has continued to clear his mind. Now, he’ll carve out time in his day to stop and think. He’ll step away from the different parts of his life and slow down, a form of meditation that Solomon has developed throughout his time in Boca.
“That’s something I’ve learned to do throughout college, just because being a student-athlete, you got school, you got a social life, you got football,” Solomon said. “You need time for yourself, so you got to learn howto balance those things out. Sometimes, it can get pretty stressful, so sometimes you need to take those five, 10 minutes out of the day just to calm down and sloweverything down.”
With FAUlikely to utilize many three- and four-wide receiver formations, Solomon will get the snaps necessary to try to erase his 2016 season and finish his career on a high note.
“I’ve been playing ball since I was 5 years old, so just go out and do what I’ve been doing my whole life, have fun, play ball,” Solomon said.
mdefranks@sun-sentinel .com, Twitter@MDeFranks