Nate Solder blocks against the Washington Redskins. (Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE)

The New England Patriots are studs in terms of building through the draft.

Former CU Buffs offensive tackle Nate Solder was drafted by the Pats 17th overall last year. The team’s longtime starting left offensive tackle, Matt Light, appears ready to retire which pushes Solder right into the starting role.

“Well I feel like that is the reason I was brought here, to eventually be the starter, and that’s great. I’m excited about that,” Solder said. “My sole drive was not to be a disappointment” – he let out a self-conscious chuckle – “so I hope I wasn’t a disappointment. But it continues on, you know, I have to get better next year too. – Nate Solder to the Boston The Boston Globe 

The 6’8″ 318-pound Solder played in all 19 games for the Patriots last season starting 14 of them at right tackle and starting 2 of them at left tackle. He’s been an impact player since arriving and now he will get a shot at protecting Tom Brady’s blindside.

This is one of the hardest working young players in the game. Since the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss in February, Solder has taken just one week of vacation. Other than that, he’s been working out at Gillette.

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NFL hopeful Taylor Embree hauls in a touchdown pass during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. (Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE)

Beginning February 22 in Indianapolis, around 300 NFL hopefuls will gather to try to add ‘performance in a controlled environment’ to their resumes.  Already deemed worthy of an invite by a panel of scouts, these players will take a big step in solidifying their draft positioning in the minds of NFL teams.

For those who didn’t receive an invitation to the Combine, the stakes are even higher as they will look to make lasting impressions during their school’s pro day.

“This is the most important interview we’ll have in our lives,” former UCLA wide receiver Taylor Embree said after a mock run through of Combine drills organized by Denver-area trainer Loren Landow.

Of the thirty prospects at the run though, only four received an invitation to participate in Indianapolis.

“A lot of these guys are guys that have been overlooked in their careers.  We know how important this is,” said Embree who is also the son of former NFL tight end and University of Colorado head coach Jon Embree.

While relying exclusively on a school’s pro day may feel like being overlooked to a player looking to reach his dream of signing with an NFL team, it is certainly not a dead end either.

“You hear of guys getting invited to the Combine and you don’t get a Combine invite,” Embree said. “You kind of get down, but then you get here and you see the talent that’s here and how hard guys are working, and you realize not everyone goes through the same process to get to the league.”
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Not surprisingly, the Broncos ESPY wins came from the best years in franchise history. During the 1998 awards, the Broncos dramatic victory in Super Bowl XXXII was named Game of the Year. The award for Best Team in 1998 also went to the Broncos, and Terrell Davis won for Outstanding Performance Under Pressure for his effort in the Super Bowl. In 1999, Davis won another ESPY for Best NFL Player.

Several other Denver area athletes have also taken home an ESPY award. In 1995, the University of Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam won for Best College Football Player, and the Hail Mary play from Kordell Stewart to Michael Westbrook that gave CU a dramatic win over Michigan won for College Football Play of the Year. Colorado State University’s Amy Van Dyken won for Female Athlete of the year in 1996 after her epic performance in the Summer Olympics. Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche won for Best NHL Player in 1997, and Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies won for Best MLB Player in 1998.

So which Denver Athlete do you think will bring home the next ESPY?

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