
04/21/2009 - Knowing that NFL teams can only dress seven offensive linemen for a game, having showed in college he can play numerous positions on the field is something both he and Iowa offensive line coach Reese Morgan see as being beneficial for Olsen in the NFL. "Seth has played two years at tackle and a year at guard, so he has had the opportunity to do both, and it is an advantage," Morgan said. "He has played right side, left side, and we use that same kind of concept with our players. We want them to learn both sides. We want all of our guys to learn numerous positions, and he knows every position. "He is a guy who can play any position in the league." While he said there's always a possibility of playing anywhere along the line, Olsen has gotten the sense he is being viewed as a guard prospect. "Guard is my primary position," Olsen said. "That's how I see it, and that's how they see it." Like former teammates Rob Bruggeman and Andy Brodell, Olsen is being represented by agent Jack Bechta. Bechta doesn't put much stock into mock drafts and where prognosticators have his clients going, but he was confident Olsen will be selected, most likely on the draft's second day. "He's probably rated anywhere from the fifth- to 10th-best guard prospect. That normally translates to the fourth and sixth round," Bechta said. "You just never know where there is going to a run at what position." - Brendan Stiles, UI The Daily Iowan
| Overview |
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Nationally underrated, Olsen leaves Iowa as a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a rising prospect on NFL boards due to his size, strength, durability and versatility. A four-year contributor, Olsen started each of the past two seasons, primarily on the right side of the line, but also seeing some action at left tackle. He was first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and coaches while primarily at right guard in 2008 after garnering honorable mention honors at right tackle as a junior. A strong showing throughout the week at the East-West Shrine Game might have secured Olsen's place as a second-day draft selection. |
| Analysis |
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Positives: Naturally large man with good weight distribution. Good initial quickness off the snap. Very good hand placement and upper-body strength. Seems to enjoy the physical hand-to-hand combat inside the trenches. Good strength to latch onto the defender, turn and either sustain his position or toss the defender onto ground for a pancake block. Underrated short-area lateral quickness and balance to hold up in pass protection. Plays with good leverage despite his height. Versatile blocker who has started at right guard, right tackle and left tackle over the past two years. Impressive week of practice at the East-West Shrine game. Negatives: Strong and technically refined, but isn't an elite athlete. Only phone-booth quickness. Struggles adjusting in space at the second level. Lumbers after a few steps and is forced to lunge at defenders. Lacks the deep kick-step and elite lateral quickness to handle the left tackle position, though he has experience there. May struggle on the outside at right tackle. |
| 2008 Season |
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First team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . first team all-Big Ten by Phil Steele's College Football . . . academic all-Big Ten . . .Listed as first team right guard following spring practice . . . started at right guard in 46-3 opening win over Maine as offense rushed for 245 yards and gained 457 yards total offense . . . started at right guard in 42-0 win over Florida International as offense rushed for 241 yards and gained 512 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 17-5 win over Iowa State . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 21-20 loss at Pittsburgh . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 22-17 loss to Northwestern as offense gained 407 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 16-13 loss at Michigan State . . . started at right guard in 45-9 win at Indiana as offense rushed for 227 yards and gained 422 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 38-16 win over Wisconsin due to injury . . . did not see action in 27-24 loss at Illinois due to injury . . . started at right guard and played every offensive play in 24-23 win over third-ranked Penn State . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 22-17 win over Purdue as offense gained 248 net rushing yards . . . started at left tackle in 55-0 win over Minnesota as offense rushed for 222 yards and gained 483 yards total offense. |
| 2007 Season |
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2007 Honors - - Named honorable mention all-Big Ten by league coaches . . . Hustle Team Award, offense . . . started at right tackle in opening win over Northern Illinois as offense rushed for 250 yards and gained 383 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle in win over Syracuse as offense gained 408 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss at Iowa State . . . started at right tackle in loss at Wisconsin before moving over to play right guard for majority of the game . . . started at right guard in loss to Indiana at offense gained 428 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss at Penn State . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over 18th-ranked Illinois as offense rushed for 141 yards and gained 323 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle in loss at Purdue . . . started at right tackle in double OT win over Michigan State as offense gained 230 yards rushing . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over Northwestern as offense gained 299 passing yards and 369 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over Minnesota . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss to Western Michigan as offense gained 397 yards total offense. |
| 2006 Season |
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2006 Honors - - Next Man in Award, offense. 2006 - - Listed as second team right guard following spring practice . . . saw action in 41-7 win over Montana as offense gained 416 yards total offense . . . saw action in double overtime win at Syracuse . . . saw action in win over Iowa State as offense gained 410 yards total offense . . . started at left guard in win at Illinois for second career start . . . moved to right guard for entire second half . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in loss to top-ranked Ohio State . . . started at right guard in win over Purdue as offense posted season high marks in points (47) and rushing yards (286) . . . started at right guard in loss at Indiana at played every offensive down as offense gained 467 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss at Michigan . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over Northern Illinois as offense gained 405 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in loss to Northwestern . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss to Wisconsin . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down as offense gained season-best 546 yards total offense in loss at Minnesota . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down as offense gained 363 yards total offense vs. Texas in Alamo Bowl. |
| 2005 Season |
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2005 Honors - - Big Ten Conference all-Freshman team by The Sporting News . . . 2005 - - listed as second team right guard following spring practice . . . saw action in opening win over Ball State as offense gained 441 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle at Iowa State for first career start as offense gained 173 yards rushing . . . saw action in win over Northern Iowa as offense gained 496 total yards . . . saw action at Ohio State . . . saw action in offensive line as offense rushed for 301 yards and gained 476 yards total offense . . . saw action in win at Purdue as offense gained season-best 535 total yards . . . saw action in offensive line in win over Indiana as offense gained 425 yards total offense . . . saw action in offense line vs. Michigan as offense gained 427 yards total offense . . . saw action in offensive line at Northwestern as offense gained 492 yards total offense . . . saw action in offensive line at Wisconsin as offense gained 390 yards total offense . . . saw action in offensive line in win over Minnesota as offense gained 613 yards total offense . . . saw action in Outback Bowl vs. Florida as offense gained 410 yards total offense. |
| 2004 Season |
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Redshirted. |
| High School | |
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Earned Parade and EA Sports All-American honors as a senior, along with first-team all-state and all-metro laurels. named first-team all-state and all-metro as a junior, as well as Student Sports Junior all-American. helped lead prep team to three consecutive undefeated conference seasons and the 2003 Nebraska state championship. Millard North had a 36-2 record in his three years as a starter. as a senior, helped pave the way for a running game that averaged 473 yards per game. also played defensive tackle for three years, amassing 92 tackles (44 solo), nine tackles for loss and three sacks.. attended same high school as DB Adam Shada and LB Jeff Tarpinian. high school coach was Fred Petito. | |
| Personal | |
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Born 12/17/85. Political Science major. parents are Brenda and Neil Olsen | |
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