QB Ammon Olsen to Join BYU Football in January

PROVO, Utah -- BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced Friday that quarterback Ammon Olsen from Draper, Utah, has signed a scholarship agreement to enroll at BYU in January 2012.

“Ammon is an excellent athlete, and we are excited he has decided to come to BYU,” Mendenhall said. “We look forward to having him join our program in January.”

A 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback who prepped at Alta High School in Sandy, Utah, Olsen earned Utah’s 5A Most Valuable Player and Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a senior while leading the Hawks to the 2008 state championship. Known for his strong arm and accuracy, Olsen completed 193-of-306 passes (63.1 percent) for 3,209 yards and 36 touchdowns and ran for 860 yards and another 11 scores as a senior captain. An excellent athlete, Olsen also was a three-year letterman on the Alta basketball team, leading the team in scoring while earning Region 2 MVP honors as a senior.

Olsen attended Southern Utah University as a freshman in 2009, appearing in six games while completing 57.1 percent of his passes (8-of-14) for 115 yards and two touchdowns. He added 44 yards rushing on 10 carries for a 4.4 yards-per-carry average.

“Ammon is a big, strong athletic quarterback,” BYU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman said. “He was not only an outstanding quarterback in high school but an exceptional basketball player as well. He helped his teams be very successful and we anticipate him doing the same for us as a Cougar.”

Olsen is expected to enroll at BYU in January after returning from a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico City.

Ammon Olsen

6-4, 205, QB

Draper, Utah

Alta HS/Southern Utah

Earned Utah’s 5A Most Valuable Player and Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a senior while leading Alta High School to the 2008 state championship. Completed 193-of-306 passes (63.1 percent) for 3,209 yards and 36 touchdowns and ran for 860 yards and another 11 scores as a senior while leading his team to four second-half comeback wins. Member of Coach Les Hamilton’s back-to-back state championship teams in 2007 and 2008 as well as three consecutive region title teams. Exceptional athlete was also a three-year letterman on the AHS basketball team, earning Region 2 MVP honors as a senior. Attended Southern Utah University as a freshman in 2009, playing in six games while completing 57.1 percent of his passes (8-of-14) for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Added 44 yards rushing on 10 carries (4.4 ypc). Known for having excellent velocity, accuracy and touch as a passer with a good field presence and understanding of the game. Parents are Stephanie and Bryan Olsen.