Colorado University Athletics
Solder Named Finalist For Outland Trophy
November 23, 2010 | Football
BOULDER - Senior left tackle Nate Solder was named one of three finalists for the 65th Outland Trophy, given to the best interior lineman in college football as voted upon by the Football Writers Association of America, the organization announced Monday.
Solder is joined as a finalist by Wisconsin offensive tackle Gabe Carimi and Florida State offensive guard Rodney Hudson.
The winner of the Outland Trophy will be announced the evening of December 9 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will air on ESPN from 5-7 p.m. MT. CU's own Chris Fowler, along with Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard, will host the show.
"I was shocked," Solder said when he heard news of being a finalist. "Coach (Denver) Johnson told me and there's no other way I'd rather have found out. He's done so much for me."
Solder has played in all 797 snaps on offense this season for Colorado and has graded out to 92.9 percent on the season and has received marks above 90 percent in 10 of the Buffs' 11 games this season. He has compiled 127 finish or knock down blocks, 52 more than any other player, and has 10 touchdown blocks on the year. He has given up just two sacks and three quarterback pressures in the Buffs' 370 pass plays on the season.
Solder has anchored the Buffs line this season and has been especially productive the last few games. CU has scored 123 points in the last three games offensively, the most in a 3-game run since scoring 124 in 2002. It's also the first time CU's offense has scored 30 or more point in three straight games since doing so in five straight that season, as well. CU's offense has averaged 170.3 yards rushing and 441.3 yards of total offense in those three games and the Buffs have given up just two sacks in the three games.
"Our whole group of guys on the offensive line, there is such great support," Solder said. "There have been highs and lows all season, but we've pushed each other and supported each other through it all."
Solder is CU's first finalist since 1990 when Joe Garten was the runner-up for the award. Ironically, Solder has had CU's highest grade in a game - 99 percent - twice in his career, against Kansas State in 2008 and against the Wildcats Saturday. Those are the two highest marks since Garten registered a perfect 100 percent against the same K-State squad in 1990.
At 6-foot-9, he's the tallest member of the Buffs and started his career as a tight end in 2007, catching three passes for 50 yards against Miami (Ohio) that season before making the switch to the offensive line prior to the 2008 season.
"When I was a senior in high school, I thought I'd be happy just to be on a Division I team," Solder said. "I never had aspirations of being an Outland Trophy finalist, I just wanted to do what my coach told me and do everything in my power to be the best that I can be. My high school coach, Bob Marken, said every day at practice that I could be an All-American if I wanted to be. That always motivated me and I owe a lot of my success to him, too."
The Buffs, who have won two straight games to remain in bowl contention with a 5-6 record, travel to Nebraska for the final time this Friday (1:30 p.m. MT kickoff on ABC). Both the Buffs and Huskers are switching conferences after the season, so the annual post-Thanksgiving showdown will likely be played for the final time.
"I have to keep Nebraska as my main focus," Solder said. "I've been here for five years and it's coming down to one last game, it's going to say a lot for this group of seniors how we perform this week. Almost everything this group has done will be for naught if we don't beat them in Lincoln."
Solder is also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Award, known as the Academic Heisman and he is one of 15 scholar-athletes that has been awarded with an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. Solder will be honored in New York City at the 53rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 7, the same ceremony that will see former CU linebacker Alfred Williams enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame.
"All this is happening right before finals, so it will be crazy," Solder said. "I was running today to get my tuxedo for New York City and I'm also trying to get ready for Nebraska and not make it a distraction."
