Nate Solder (77) has had Tom Brady's back all season. (AP)

FOXBORO — When you look around the Patriots offensive line, the veteran names pop out immediately.

There’s Matt Light, in his 11th season. Brian Waters in his 12th. Logan Mankins in his seventh.

Then there’s Nate Solder, in his first.

But what makes Solder so remarkable is the load he’s carried on the unit that protects the well-being of the franchise – Tom Brady.

Solder came out of Colorado and played in all 16 games in his rookie season, starting 13.

Waters – a Pro Bowler again in 2011 – can’t get over how much Solder has accomplished in his first NFL season.

“He’s as good as any young player that I’ve ever played with,” Waters said. “He’s got an immense amount of talent and he does a great job of working hard and getting on the details. He’s never comfortable. He’s always trying, week by week, to get better. He’s always asking questions. He’s a good young football player, who has plenty of room to grow, who can turn into a really great one eventually.”

That’s mighty high praise from an offensive lineman who has earned six Pro Bowl berths.

Light has played opposite Solder several times this season and has watched as Solder has even filled in as a tackle-eligible for a “super-sized” look on the line, in max-protection and short yardage power rushing formations.

“I think, No. 1, he’s just very talented athletically,” Light said. “He gets it and with enormous size. I mean, the guy’s 6-foot-100, I don’t really know. He’s a rather large human being and he can move really well. And he really wants to finish each and every play. He wants to get better.

“He’s taken a lot of the coaching from, obviously, [offensive line coach] Dante [Dante Scarnecchia], but also a lot of the guys around him. I think having a guy like Brian playing next to him [when at right tackle], has really done a lot to give him the confidence and the ability to go out there and see things a little bit — maybe easier than it would have been having another guy next to him. Brian’s like an encyclopedia of this league, and what guys do up front. It’s been a great guy to have as a wing man for Nate.”