Solomon Patton is a Gator, plain and simple. The 5’10, 175 pound wideout from Hoover, Alabama loves the Gators more than anything, and he enrolled early at his favorite school earlier this week to get a jumpstart on his college education. Sort of weird huh? I was under the impression that Nick Saban owned the state of Alabama in recruiting; apparently not. He will be hitting the field this spring when the Gators put on the orange and blue for practice. I for one cant wait to see Patton play at UF.

During his entire career, Patton put up huge numbers for his high school, SS Murphy. During his senior season, Patton caught 71 passes for 891 yards and seven touchdowns. That’s over twelve yards a catch! But that’s not the only stat he was doing well in. He got 30 rushes for 371 yards and three touchdowns and also returned five kick returns this year for 194 yards and one touchdown. Patton was used everywhere on his team, and will probably do the same at UF next fall.

Patton is expected to play in the slot for UF this spring/fall. He will get his shot on the outside too, but I expect him to stay in the slot and have sort of a Percy Harvin role. He was one of the two wide receivers to enroll early at Florida this semester (Robert Clark), so now him and Clark can get a leg up on the other wideouts UF has committed to play for them in 2010 (Chris Dunkley and Quinton Dunbar).

Gator Sports Nation exchanged a few words with Patton tonight:

When I first spoke with Patton, I asked him if he was pumped about this year, he replied back: “Heck yea!”

We had the chance to ask him a couple of things.

Gator Sports Nation: What did you think of the Under Armour All-America game?

Patton: “I liked it a lot, um it was a good experience just being to leave mobile and go play with the best athletes in the nation, i mean that’s big and i thank god for blessing me to get this far in life.”

Gator Sports Nation: What are the advantages of enrolling early at UF?

Patton: “Me getting in early it gives me a chance to learn the plays and get in the weight room to put about 15 pounds on b4 the season and just go through spring.”

-Gator Sports Nation