Ex-Wayne Hills QB Kevin Olsen Named Starter At UNC Charlotte: Report

Kevin Olsen is finally having some measure of success three years after charges filed against him threatened to derail his football career before it even started.

Olsen was the starting quarterback for the Wayne Hills Patriots and one of the top quarterback recruits in the country in 2013 when he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after he smashed his car into a vehicle. A witness said he appeared to be “under the influence” of something, court records showed at the time charges were filed.

Olsen, the younger brother of Carolina Panthers pro-bowler Greg Olsen, was one of the top prospects in the country coming out of high school, but his college career has largely been a series of busts.

Charlotte is the fifth collegiate program Olsen has been with.

He redshirted at the University of Miami, but never played a down for the Hurricanes after a series of off the field incidents, including an arrest for driving under the influence. He was dismissed from the university after three suspensions.

A stop at Towson University was next, but Olsen never played a down there either. Garden City Community College in Kansas was next following by a transfer to Riverside City Community College. It was there he finally began playing meaningful football games.

He threw for more than 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns, WSOC9 reported.

That’s where UNC Charlotte head coach Brad Lambert noticed him.

“He’s done a good job. He’s played extremely well this spring,” Lambert said. “He’s a very intelligent guy. He’s a team guy. He’s a ‘we’ guy. He’s a confident guy.”

Olsen is grateful for the opportunity presented to him.

“This is a last chance that I think a lot of people usually don't get,” Olsen told WSOC.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Sign up for Patch N.J. email newsletters here.