- Ben Olson
Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Ben Olson
college =UCLA
conference = Pac 10
sport = Football
position = QB
class = Senior
major =
nickname =
career_start = 2005
height_ft = 6
height_in = 5
weight_lb = 236
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1983|02|28
birth_place =Missoula, MT
highschool =Thousand Oaks High School
career_highlights =
awards =Benjamen James Olson (born
February 28 ,1983 , inMissoula, MT ) is aredshirt seniorquarterback for the 2006UCLA Bruins football team. He excelled in football atThousand Oaks High School , earning high school All-American honors in 2002. Olson wears number 7 and is listed as 6'5", 227 pounds.High school career
Olson played quarterback for Thousand Oaks High School for 4 years. For 3 of those years, he played on the varsity team, alongside David Anderson.
In 2001, Olson was considered the top quarterback prospect [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/abox/article_1259081.php "UCLA's Ben Olson making the grade"] , "The Orange County Register", August 30, 2006] and even top high school football recruit in the country [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600155699,00.html "Ex-next-great-BYU QB loving life at UCLA"] , "The Press-Enterprise", August 13, 2005] following a highly productive senior year in which he threw for 2,989 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Collegiate career
Olson signed with
Brigham Young University upon graduating fromThousand Oaks High School in 2002 and redshirted his freshman season. Olson then went on a 2 year mission to Canada with the LDS Church.Olson transferred to
UCLA from BYU in 2005, where he spent the year behind seniorDrew Olson (no relation) on the depth chart. Many BYU fans were disappointed by Olson's decision to transfer, but the excellent play by BYU's quarterbacks since Olson's departure has softened the blow.Olson played in five games in 2006, completing 63.7% of his passes for 822 yards, 6.63 yards per attempt, 5 TDs and 5 INTs. Olson's season came to an end in the opening moments of his fifth start when he was injured. Though Olson regained his health, he didn't regain the starting position that season.
Olson was named starting quarterback for the 2007 Season following the spring training. However, he was plagued, yet again, by injuries and only played in 6 games, completing only 48.3% of his passes for 1040 yards, 7.08 yards per attempt, 7 TDs and 6 INTs.
Entering the 2008 season, Olson is the presumptive starting quarterback after a career-ending knee injury to Patrick Cowan, the named starter during spring practice. However, on Saturday, August 9 Olson broke his foot and will be sidelined for at least two months. Olson, whose career has been marked by injuries, broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during practice, and X-rays taken Sunday, August 10 revealed the fracture. He suffered the same injury during spring practice.
Kevin Craft has played well in Olson's absence, and could make it difficult for Olson to ever see the playing field again.Personal
Olson has one brother and three sisters and is married to the former Andrea Anderson in May 2007. He majored history at UCLA.
ee Also
*
2008 UCLA Bruins football team
*2007 UCLA Bruins football team References
* [http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/olson_ben00.html UCLA player bio]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
