Drew Olson
Encyclopedia
Drew Martin Olson is an American football
quarterback
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
at UCLA
. Olson has also played for the Carolina Panthers
and San Francisco 49ers
.
, where he was the starting quarterback
for the Piedmont Highlanders and gave the small school serious attention in the state, and even national spectacle, especially when he threw to All-Conference receiver, Pete Schneider. Olson led Piedmont to the Bay Shore League championship and was named to the 1st-team All-Bay Shore League team in 2000 and 2001. Olson was also the Bay Shore League Most Valuable Player as a junior. A 3-year starter, Olson completed 439 of 774 passes (57%) for 6,103 yards, 60 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. Olson also demonstrated his athletic talent on the baseball diamond where he played catcher for the Highlanders. Olson became regarded as the top quarterback in the state, No. 6 in the west, No. 16 in the nation, earning four varsity letters, and moved Piedmont High School into the top 10 in the state among small schools.
from Piedmont High School, Olson enrolled at UCLA. In his freshman
year Olson started five games in the second half of the season due to Cory Paus' separated shoulder
injury in a game against Cal
that sidelined him for four games. For his spectacular performance in five games in 2002, Olson earned the starting job in 2003. In 2003 he appeared in twelve of the thirteen games, nine of which he was the starter for. He completed 173 of 325 passes (53.2%) for 2,067 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions, as UCLA won two less games than the previous year, going 6-7. In Olson's junior season, he, his stats, and the Bruins themselves exploded. As the starter in all 12 games, Olson completed 196 of 341 passes (57.5%) for 2,565 yards, 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions (four on deflections). In 2005, his senior season, Olson completed 242 of 378 passes (64.0%) for 3,198 yards, with 34 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. Olson began to make national headlines, and was widely considered the most underrated quarterback
in the nation, as UCLA went 10-2 and finished as the 17th ranked team in the country. During his senior season Olson led UCLA to four 4th-quarter double-digit comebacks plus a 22-point rally in the Vitalis Sun Bowl against Northwestern
.
Olson ended his career at UCLA 2nd on the UCLA all-time passing yardage list (8,532), completions (664) and TDs (67) in his 4-year Bruins career.
Olson graduated from UCLA with a bachelors degree in history in 2009.
, Olson signed a non-guaranteed contract as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens
on May 12, 2006. Olson was cut by the Ravens prior to the start of the 2006 NFL season, but signed to their practice squad. Olson was allocated to now defunct NFL Europa where he played the 2007 season as the starting quarterback of the Amsterdam Admirals
. He finished the NFL Europa season having completed 170 out of 310 passes (54.8% completion percentage) for 1967 yards, 13 Touchdowns, and 13 Interceptions. http://www.footballdb.com/nfl-europe/stats/2007/P
practice squad in the wake of a number of injuries at the quarterback position.http://www.charlotte.com/panthers/story/350914.html He was elevated to the 53-man roster before the team's November 11 game against the Atlanta Falcons
. He was subsequently cut the week following the game.
' practice squad. He was signed to the team's active roster on December 28, where he finished the season.
On July 7, 2008, the 49ers waived Olson in order to make room for quarterback Kyle Wright
, who was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings
.
draft of the United National Gridiron League
. The UNGL has since been dissolved, owing to financial difficulties and lack of interest.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
. Olson has also played for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
Early years
Olson grew up in the affluent town of Piedmont, CaliforniaPiedmont, California
Piedmont is a small, affluent city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is surrounded by the city of Oakland. The population was 10,667 at the 2010 census. Piedmont was incorporated in 1907 and was developed significantly in the 1920s and 1930s...
, where he was the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Piedmont Highlanders and gave the small school serious attention in the state, and even national spectacle, especially when he threw to All-Conference receiver, Pete Schneider. Olson led Piedmont to the Bay Shore League championship and was named to the 1st-team All-Bay Shore League team in 2000 and 2001. Olson was also the Bay Shore League Most Valuable Player as a junior. A 3-year starter, Olson completed 439 of 774 passes (57%) for 6,103 yards, 60 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. Olson also demonstrated his athletic talent on the baseball diamond where he played catcher for the Highlanders. Olson became regarded as the top quarterback in the state, No. 6 in the west, No. 16 in the nation, earning four varsity letters, and moved Piedmont High School into the top 10 in the state among small schools.
College career
After graduationGraduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
from Piedmont High School, Olson enrolled at UCLA. In his freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
year Olson started five games in the second half of the season due to Cory Paus' separated shoulder
Separated shoulder
A separated shoulder , is a common injury to the acromioclavicular joint. This is not the same as a shoulder dislocation as that involves a dislocation of the glenohumeral joint...
injury in a game against Cal
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
that sidelined him for four games. For his spectacular performance in five games in 2002, Olson earned the starting job in 2003. In 2003 he appeared in twelve of the thirteen games, nine of which he was the starter for. He completed 173 of 325 passes (53.2%) for 2,067 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions, as UCLA won two less games than the previous year, going 6-7. In Olson's junior season, he, his stats, and the Bruins themselves exploded. As the starter in all 12 games, Olson completed 196 of 341 passes (57.5%) for 2,565 yards, 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions (four on deflections). In 2005, his senior season, Olson completed 242 of 378 passes (64.0%) for 3,198 yards, with 34 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. Olson began to make national headlines, and was widely considered the most underrated quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the nation, as UCLA went 10-2 and finished as the 17th ranked team in the country. During his senior season Olson led UCLA to four 4th-quarter double-digit comebacks plus a 22-point rally in the Vitalis Sun Bowl against Northwestern
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
Olson ended his career at UCLA 2nd on the UCLA all-time passing yardage list (8,532), completions (664) and TDs (67) in his 4-year Bruins career.
Olson graduated from UCLA with a bachelors degree in history in 2009.
Baltimore Ravens
After going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
, Olson signed a non-guaranteed contract as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
on May 12, 2006. Olson was cut by the Ravens prior to the start of the 2006 NFL season, but signed to their practice squad. Olson was allocated to now defunct NFL Europa where he played the 2007 season as the starting quarterback of the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
. He finished the NFL Europa season having completed 170 out of 310 passes (54.8% completion percentage) for 1967 yards, 13 Touchdowns, and 13 Interceptions. http://www.footballdb.com/nfl-europe/stats/2007/P
Carolina Panthers
In October 2007, Olson was signed to the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
practice squad in the wake of a number of injuries at the quarterback position.http://www.charlotte.com/panthers/story/350914.html He was elevated to the 53-man roster before the team's November 11 game against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was subsequently cut the week following the game.
San Francisco 49ers
On November 21, 2007, Olson was signed to the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
' practice squad. He was signed to the team's active roster on December 28, where he finished the season.
On July 7, 2008, the 49ers waived Olson in order to make room for quarterback Kyle Wright
Kyle Wright
Kyle Wright is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
, who was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
UNGL
On January 8, 2009 he was drafted by the Virginia Swarm in the inaugural2009 UNGL Draft
The 2009 UNGL Draft was the inaugural draft for the United National Gridiron League. The draft was held on January 8-9, 2009. What made this draft unique was the fact that the league chose to skip having a rookie combine and held the draft online, in order to start the league in the spring of 2009...
draft of the United National Gridiron League
United National Gridiron League
The United National Gridiron League was a proposed minor professional football league. The league was formed in August 2007 and was originally called the United National Football League.The league's inaugural draft took place January 8–9, 2009...
. The UNGL has since been dissolved, owing to financial difficulties and lack of interest.