He'll play guard or center.
Olsen chooses Irish
By BOB WIENEKE Tribune Staff Writer
Now that Eric Olsen has decided he will play football at Notre Dame, the offensive lineman from Brooklyn (N.Y.) Poly Prep can get back to what he really enjoys. "I've got the decision out of the way," said the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Olsen. "Now, I can straight-up play and maul people." Those words alone should bring a smile to the face of Irish coach Charlie Weis. So too should the fact that Olsen is an offensive lineman, the biggest remaining need in a class that now includes 17 players. NCAA recruiting rules prohibit Weis or members of his coaching staff from publicly commenting on an unsigned player. The first day a player can sign is Feb. 1. Olsen had received 21 offers, most notably from Miami, Boston College, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Syracuse and North Carolina, and had whittled his final list to the Irish and BC. "The school is everything I was looking for," said Olsen, who was recruited by ND assistant coach Bernie Parmalee. "Notre Dame was the perfect fit. No other school can compare." Olsen also said Weis' personality played a part in his decision. "He's a real no-B.S. type of coach," said Olsen, who comes from the same school as former Irish players Marcus Wilson (running back) and JW Jordan (offensive lineman). "He just reeks respect, and that's a great thing to have as a head coach." Olsen made an unofficial visit to Notre Dame last summer for a camp and plans to make his official visit in December. He was offered a scholarship by ND in early August and is expected to play either guard or center for the Irish. "I'm always trying to pancake people," said Olsen. "Tenacity is my strong point." "He's aggressive, technically sound, quick-footed and ideal for the guard position," said recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who ranks Olsen as a four-star prospect (on a five-star scale) and rates him as the top offensive lineman in New York. Olsen joins Arkansas standout Bartley Webb as the only offensive linemen in a class that is expected to include a total of 25 players. The Irish signed only 15 players last February. It's also a class that is ranked in the top 10 nationally.
"It just gets me excited seeing all these big-time guys coming to the same team I'm coming to," Olsen said.
