ORONO — Doug Nash was finding the concepts and theories of chemical engineering difficult to grasp, so he switched his major at the University of Maine to a no less complicated but more hands-on major, mechanical engineering.

Nash switched majors on the football field last year, too, moving from the defensive line to the offensive line. Both are extremely hands-on.

Even though he played, and excelled, on both sides of the line at Leavitt, it took Nash some time to grasp the concepts and theories of offensive line play. Maine initially had him pegged as a defensive tackle, and he spent his redshirt year learning to stop the run and collapse the pocket.

Before his redshirt freshman year, the coaching staff decided his 6-foot-5, 295-pound frame was better suited to opening holes for the run and forming the pocket for the pass. He had to learn different technique and a whole new, much thicker, playbook.

Nash is still learning technique, but it comes a lot easier a year later. The studying comes easier, too, just like in mechanical engineering.

“It’s nice being able to review a playbook rather than having to learn one this year,” he said. “The big thing I’ve noticed is there’s a lot less extra studying that I have to do at night after meetings. The first year on the offense, I was unsure of all of the plays and the different calls that we have to make. This year it’s a little more second nature, more review it during meetings and not having to go back and spending so much time trying to learn it.”

Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove said the coaching staff made a mistake having Nash spend a year on the defensive line, then praised his progress in adjusting to his new role.

“His athletic ability is as good as you can find in our O-line,” Cosgrove said. “His strength numbers aren’t there yet, but they’ve started to make progress and that’s the one place where he’s going to keep advancing.”

Nash spent the summer in Orono so he could work with the strength and conditioning staff.

“It definitely helped with my conditioning,” he said. “I got stronger in the weight room, which was I guess one of my shortfalls last year. I wasn’t as strong as I needed to be. I’m still not quite where I want to be strength-wise, but I definitely improved over the summer.”

He improved enough that he may get on the field as a sophomore.

“He’s got a chance to play for us,” Cosgrove said. “This preseason is very important to him, simply because we need to see him compete against good players. He’s going to get pushed into some situations in this preseason where we’re truly going to find out about him.”

If they like what they find, Nash figures to be the Black Bears’ third tackle when they open the season Sept. 3 against Bryant at Alfond Stadium.

Nash knows cracking the starting lineup will be tough initially. The offensive line figures to be one of Maine’s strengths after injuries depleted the unit last year.

“There’s a lot of experience coming back. We have eight guys that were here the whole year last year. Across the board, everybody’s had multiple starts,” Nash said. “It definitely looks better than last year so far.”

Nash’s future should be looking better as the season unfolds.

“I’ve just got to take that extra step and hopefully get some time out there this year,” he said.