Nate Solder
Encyclopedia
Nate Solder is an American football
offensive tackle with the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
(NFL). After a college career with Colorado, he was picked 17th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft
by the Patriots.
elementary school student body; he has been a student aide and mentor to many of their students.
As a senior, he had 31 receptions for 513 yards and eight touchdowns (and ran one reverse for a short gain in the state playoffs), with 118 tackles, 76 solo, five for losses including two sacks, and a fumble recovery. He caught 24 balls for 276 yards and four scores as a junior, when he racked up 94 tackles (66 solo, three for losses with one sack) and made two interceptions. As a sophomore, he had seven catches for 110 yards and one touchdown, while making 44 tackles (31 solo, three sacks) with five fumble recoveries. He saw spot action late in the year on the varsity as a freshman.
For his career, Nate caught 62 passes for 899 yards and 13 touchdowns, while recording 256 tackles (173 solo, 83 assists) with six quarterback sacks and six fumble recoveries. Top games as a senior: in a 62-28 win over Salida, he caught four passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns; in a 41-14 victory over Lamar, he had two receptions for 94 yards, both touchdowns (50 and 44 yards), along with 11 tackles on defense (eight solo); and in a 17-14 win over Kent Denver in the state semifinals, he had 15 tackles, including 10 solo stops. Under long-time coach Bob Marken, Buena Vista posted a combined 27-4 record in his three full seasons on the varsity: 12-1 his senior year, losing in the state finals to Holy Family; and 8-1 his junior and 7-2 his sophomore seasons, losing in the first round both times; BVHS won the Tri-Peaks League title all three seasons.
Solder also lettered three times in basketball at center, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds per game as a senior when BVHS was the league and district champ, and lettered twice in baseball, playing first base and pitching (right-hander).
freshman in 2006 as a 6'7", 230-pound tight end
; by 2009, he was listed as 6'9", 305 pounds.
Solder was one of three finalists for the 2010 Outland Trophy
, along with Gabe Carimi
and Rodney Hudson
; Carimi won the award. Jon Gruden
of ESPN
said that Solder "has a huge upside. But remember he's a converted tight end
and a work in progress."
Following Christmas 2009, he traveled to Guatemala
and volunteered at an orphanage; as a sophomore, he went to Italy during the summer to help rebuild a town after it suffered many collapses from an earthquake. At CU, he regularly participates in the "Read with the Buffs" and "Buffalo Hugs" programs.
(after Tyron Smith) when they drafted him 17th overall. Solder had a private workout with Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia
just a few days before the draft.
Solder signed a contract on August 4th, the details of which are yet to be revealed. Solder played his first regular season game against the Miami Dolphins on September 12th 2011, he allowed just one sack against Pro Bowler Cameron Wake
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). After a college career with Colorado, he was picked 17th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
by the Patriots.
Personal
Hobbies include kayaking, rafting, fishing, skiing and reading. He also has done a fair share of community service, including coaching Pee Wee basketball and speaking to the entire Buena VistaBuena Vista
Buena Vista, meaning "good view" in Spanish, may refer to:*Buena Vista , a Walt Disney trademark*Buena Vista Social Club , a Cuban music club plus an album and film inspired by the club...
elementary school student body; he has been a student aide and mentor to many of their students.
High School
Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 45 tight end in the nation as the eighth overall prospect in the state of Colorado. He earned first-team all-state (2A) honors on both sides of the ball: by the Rocky Mountain News at tight end, and from the Denver Post at linebacker. He was a two-time, first-team All-Tri-Peaks League performer, at both positions as a senior and on defense as a junior. He was a two-year starter at tight end and middle linebacker, twice being named the most outstanding linebacker in the Tri-Peaks League; he started at defensive end as a sophomore and saw significant action as the backup tight end.As a senior, he had 31 receptions for 513 yards and eight touchdowns (and ran one reverse for a short gain in the state playoffs), with 118 tackles, 76 solo, five for losses including two sacks, and a fumble recovery. He caught 24 balls for 276 yards and four scores as a junior, when he racked up 94 tackles (66 solo, three for losses with one sack) and made two interceptions. As a sophomore, he had seven catches for 110 yards and one touchdown, while making 44 tackles (31 solo, three sacks) with five fumble recoveries. He saw spot action late in the year on the varsity as a freshman.
For his career, Nate caught 62 passes for 899 yards and 13 touchdowns, while recording 256 tackles (173 solo, 83 assists) with six quarterback sacks and six fumble recoveries. Top games as a senior: in a 62-28 win over Salida, he caught four passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns; in a 41-14 victory over Lamar, he had two receptions for 94 yards, both touchdowns (50 and 44 yards), along with 11 tackles on defense (eight solo); and in a 17-14 win over Kent Denver in the state semifinals, he had 15 tackles, including 10 solo stops. Under long-time coach Bob Marken, Buena Vista posted a combined 27-4 record in his three full seasons on the varsity: 12-1 his senior year, losing in the state finals to Holy Family; and 8-1 his junior and 7-2 his sophomore seasons, losing in the first round both times; BVHS won the Tri-Peaks League title all three seasons.
Solder also lettered three times in basketball at center, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds per game as a senior when BVHS was the league and district champ, and lettered twice in baseball, playing first base and pitching (right-hander).
College career
As a senior, Solder started at left tackle for the Colorado Buffaloes; Solder came to Colorado as a redshirtRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
freshman in 2006 as a 6'7", 230-pound tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
; by 2009, he was listed as 6'9", 305 pounds.
Solder was one of three finalists for the 2010 Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
, along with Gabe Carimi
Gabe Carimi
Gabe Carimi , nicknamed "The Bear Jew", is an American football offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears.Carimi had 49 starts at left tackle in his four-year Wisconsin Badgers college career, which culminated at the 2011 Rose Bowl. He was awarded the 2010 Outland Trophy, as the nation's top...
and Rodney Hudson
Rodney Hudson
Rodney Hudson is an American Football Center for the Kansas City Chiefs.-Early years:Hudson attended B. C. Rain High School in Mobile, Alabama, where he was a two-way lineman...
; Carimi won the award. Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
said that Solder "has a huge upside. But remember he's a converted tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
and a work in progress."
Following Christmas 2009, he traveled to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
and volunteered at an orphanage; as a sophomore, he went to Italy during the summer to help rebuild a town after it suffered many collapses from an earthquake. At CU, he regularly participates in the "Read with the Buffs" and "Buffalo Hugs" programs.
2011 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots made Solder the second offensive tackle chosen in the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
(after Tyron Smith) when they drafted him 17th overall. Solder had a private workout with Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia
Dante Scarnecchia
Dante Scarnecchia is the American football offensive line coach and assistant head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League...
just a few days before the draft.
Solder signed a contract on August 4th, the details of which are yet to be revealed. Solder played his first regular season game against the Miami Dolphins on September 12th 2011, he allowed just one sack against Pro Bowler Cameron Wake
Cameron Wake
Derek Cameron Wake is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State....
.