By now, this much we know: University of Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins is given to exuberance and the occasional overstatement. So keep that in mind when he crows about one of his sophomore offensive tackles: "I love him. . . . I've got a man- crush on Nate Solder."

In sheer football terms, Solder truly offers a lot to love - and not simply because he's nearly 6-foot-9 and weighs a couple of top sirloins above 300 pounds.

He owns hands that might have belonged to a classical pianist, and feet so dexterous they might have supported a ballerina - albeit a supersize one.

"Unbelievable," CU offensive line coach/running game coordinator Jeff Grimes gushes about Solder's footwork. "His is right up there with the best I've ever coached. He's got unbelievable feet, unbelievable quickness. You just don't find guys who are 6-8 and athletic like that. Most of 'em are playing power forward."

Solder, of Buena Vista, arrived at CU ticketed for tight end, and did so his first two seasons. But in something not quite epiphanic, coaches saw Solder's agility, his Titan-missile-size frame and had visions of him protecting the quarterback.

But could he grow into that slot? Weighing about 270 in midwinter, Solder became a glutton with a purpose, dedicating himself to a high-carbohydrate and protein diet while increasing his weight- room work.

"I've always eaten so much, I said, 'Oh, geez, what am I going to do now (to gain weight)?' " he said. "But I began snacking more, eating larger meals . . . and when summer hit, I was a little more relaxed, not so stressed, and the weight went on easier."

He reached his goal of weighing 300 pounds by the time preseason camp opened, and in coming seasons, he can see playing comfortably at 310.

Still, Solder said, laughing, "Everyone says I'm the skinniest 300-pounder they've ever seen."

Grimes, though, takes exception, saying Solder has the look of an offensive lineman, "not a converted tight end. He's done an unbelievable job, better than anybody I've seen, in putting that good weight on in a short amount of time.

"And that's not easy to do for a young guy with a fast metabolism. He's really been disciplined with his eating, and he's worked his tail off in the weight room."

Solder's biggest challenge has been learning to maintain his balance while "punching" with his hands during pass blocking. Tight ends usually block with their weight shifted forward, not from a stance that requires weight centered over their feet.

At tight end, Solder caught three passes - all in 2007, all in CU's 42-0 flogging of Miami (Ohio). Leaving that position wasn't so disturbing because, when he glimpsed the future, he saw "more of a ceiling for me at tight end and a lot less of one at tackle."

"The more I thought about it, the more I thought I could take my skills at tight end and transfer them to left tackle," he said. "So it wasn't really a negative for me, as much as a positive. I wanted to be the best I could be."

Best, biggest, brightest. He's well on his way.