Eric Olson transferred to Buckingham Browne & Nichols his sophomore year. 6’6″, 210 pounds at the time, Olson entered the Cambridge (MA) school interested mainly in playing basketball before varsity football coach John Papas persuaded him to play football as well. The standout junior has since become one of the most coveted offensive line prospects in the Northeast, boasting offers from Boston College, Connecticut, Duke, Michigan, N.C. State, Northwestern, and Virginia.

“It’s pretty unbelievable,” Olson said, referring to his path to being a major FBS recruit. “I remember I came in to meet with the basketball coach one day. He wasn’t there, but John Papas was. We talked, and he said they don’t have a right tackle. He said he truly thought I could be a D-1 lineman. At the time, I was nothing short of bad at football, so I was completely taken aback. I came right in and started. I held my own as a 210-pound tackle. I worked hard in the offseason. I put on a lot of weight and I had a good junior season. It has all fallen into place.”

Papas, who has coached football for 34 years, said, “I think I have a relatively good eye for talent. Watching how athletic he is, and how he can really bend, I saw he really had potential as a football player. What I couldn’t measure is how bright he is, but he is also pretty tough. Eric can mix it up on the field.”

Olson is a quality contributor for BB&N’s varsity basketball squad. He played as a sophomore and this past season as a junior, but the hard court season has not affected his time in the weight room.

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