DREW OLSON CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

The Bruin quarterback has played himself into Heisman Trophy consideration with his fabulous senior season. He is also on the list of 10 "Players to Watch" for the Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year award. In addition, he has been named one of seven finalists for the Unitas Award (nation's top senior quarterback) and one of 15 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award and has led the Bruins to a 9-1 record, including four fourth-quarter double-digit comebacks.

On the year, he has completed 218 of 322 passes (67.7) for 2,909 yards and 30 touchdowns with three interceptions. His passing efficiency rating of 172.47 ranks first nationally, as do his 30 touchdown passes and his interception percentage of 0.93. He also ranks third in the Pac-10 in passing yards (290.90) and third in the league and 20th in the nation in total offense (284.80). His 30 touchdown passes also rank seventh (tied) on the Pac-10 single-season list.

Olson's 30 touchdown passes have shattered the old school record of 25, set by Cade McNown in 1998 (12 games). In his last six games, Olson has thrown 22 touchdowns and just one interception. His 218 completions rank No. 2 in school history, trailing only Troy Aikman's 228 in 1998. His 2,909 yards rank No. 4 on that UCLA list, trailing only Cade McNown's 3,470 yards in 1998, McNown's 3,116 yards in 1997 and Tom Ramsey's 2,986 yards in 1982.

He has 11 completions of at least 40 yards this season and 45 of at least 20 yards. His 510 passing yards against Arizona State rank No. 2 in school history behind only McNown's 513 at Miami in 1998. He has thrown at least five touchdown passes three times this season (McNown did it twice in his career), including a school-record six against Oregon State and five each versus Arizona State and Washington State.

In his 43-game career (36 starts (23-13) / last 25 straight), Olson has 640 completions which rank No. 2 in UCLA history. In addition, his 8,283 career passing yards rank No. 2 and his career total offense of 8,022 yards also ranks No. 2. His 63 touchdown passes rank No. 2 on the UCLA career list.

His 63 touchdown passes rank 10th on the Pac-10 career list while his 8,243 passing yards rank 16th.

In his last 18 games, he has completed 358 of 558 (.642) passes for 4,734 yards, 46 TDs and 11 interceptions.

In the four fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories, he completed 45 of 61 passes (.738) for 539 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in the fourth quarter and overtime. In the fourth quarter/overtime of all games this season, Olson is 62 of 86 (.721) for 820 yards, 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. In the second half of all games this season, Olson is 113 of 157 (.720) for 1,393 yards, 15 touchdowns and no interceptions.

Against Arizona State, he was virtually unstoppable. On the evening, he completed 22 of 27 passes for 510 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. In the first quarter, he completed eight of 10 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns (91 yards to Joe Cowan on the first play of the game, 56 yards to Chris Markey and six yards to Marcedes Lewis).

In the second half, he completed all 12 of his attempts for 195 yards and two touchdowns (seven yards to Brandon Breazell and 13 yards to Lewis). The 91-yard touchdown to Cowan was the fourth-longest pass play in school history. He became only the second Bruin to break the 500-yard plateau late in the game on Marcedes Lewis' diving 17-yard reception. He engineered five touchdown drives of at least 79 yards.

The 510 yards rank No. 2 on UCLA's single-game list (Cade McNown set the school record with 513 yards at Miami) as do his 501 yards of total offense (McNown's 515 yards at Miami is the record). The five touchdown passes were one shy of his school record and the third time this year he has thrown at least five TD passes.

He was selected the Division IA National Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

At Arizona, he completed 23 of 38 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. On UCLA's final scoring drive (91 yards), he completed five of six passes (last five) for 70 yards, including his second touchdown pass to Marcedes Lewis (16 yards).

In the Oct. 29 21-point comeback at Stanford, he completed 24 of 35 passes for 293 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. In the fourth quarter and overtime, he completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, a 31-yard strike to Joe Cowan in the fourth quarter and the game-winning 23-yard connection with Brandon Breazell in overtime.

In the fourth quarter, he led UCLA on touchdown drives of 65, 72 and 66 yards after Stanford took a 24-3 lead with 8:26 remaining. The three scoring drives took just 3:40. In overtime, he hit Breazell for the winning score after a two-yard run by Maurice Drew.

He was at his best in the Oct. 22 victory over Oregon State. That afternoon, he set a school record by throwing six touchdown passes -- two each to Maurice Drew and Marcedes Lewis and one each to Ryan Moya and Brandon Breazell. On the day, he completed 16 of 24 passes for 262 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions while leading the Bruins to a 51-28 win. He moved into second place on UCLA's career touchdown passes list and was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

He also set a school record with 11 touchdown passes in two consecutive games, breaking the previous record of eight. He had 13 in a three-game span, breaking the record of 11 by Wayne Cook in 1993.

In the 2005 opener at San Diego State, he connected on 10 of 15 passes for 152 yards with a long of 40. In the first half, he completed six of nine passes for 103 yards. Against Rice, he completed 18 of 25 passes (.720) for 296 yards and three touchdowns (39, 10, 11) with no interceptions. He threw five completions of at least 20 yards and had 302 yards of total offense. He completed passes to eight different receivers. In the first half, he led the Bruins to touchdowns on all six of their offensive possessions, completing 15 of 20 passes for 263 yards and three scores.

In the victory over Oklahoma, Olson completed 28 of 38 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He completed passes to 10 different receivers and both times Oklahoma scored in the second half, he responded by leading a touchdown drive. When Oklahoma closed to within 20-17 with 3:25 left in the third quarter, he responded by leading a 13-play, 83-yard drive, completing six of seven passes for 78 yards, including a 19-yard scoring strike to Marcedes Lewis. On UCLA's next possession, he drove the Bruins 45 yards for another touchdown, completing three of four passes for 42 yards, including a seven-yard score to Chris Markey. Olson was named Sporting News National Player of the Week and Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts against the Sooners.

Against Washington, he completed 29 of 44 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The 44 attempts tied his career high. In the second-half comeback (down 10-0 at half), Olson connected on 20 of 26 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. In the fourth quarter, he completed 11 of 15 passes for 99 yards and one score, including his last six attempts for 72 yards on the winning drive.

In the third quarter, with UCLA starting on the UW 28-yard line following a fumble recovery, he hit Joe Cowan for 24 yards and after a run for no yards, he found Marcedes Lewis in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown.

After Washington made the score 17-7, he moved the Bruins 80 yards, hitting Michael Pitre for a one-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter. With 3:39 remaining in the game, he drove the Bruins 73 yards for the winning score, converting a key fourth-and-one from the Bruin 36-yard line. He completed six of seven passes (the final six) for 72 yards on the drive, which was capped by Maurice Drew's one-yard run with 1:08 remaining in the game.

Against California, Olson rallied the Bruins to victory for the second straight week. He brought them back from a 14-0 deficit less than three minutes into the game, pulling them into a 14-14 tie just 10 seconds into the second quarter. Trailing 40-28 with 12:55 remaining, he drove the Bruins 80 yards to make the score 40-35, scoring on a one-yard sneak. With 2:30 remaining, UCLA took possession on its own 25-yard line and Olson drove them 75 yards, completing passes of 38 and nine yards to Marcus Everett. On third-and-one at the 28-yard line, he found Maurice Drew in the right flat and he sped 28 yards for the winning score. UCLA regained possession with 1:01 remaining and Olson helped run the clock until Drew scored on the final play of the game.

On the night, Olson completed 17 of 33 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and twice rallied his team from double-digit deficits for the win. He also moved into second place on the career total offense list.

At Washington State, he rallied the Bruins from deficits of 21 points in the first half and 17 points in the fourth quarter, tying school records in both categories. On the night, he completed 31 of 43 passes for a then career-high 338 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. His five touchdown passes tied the old school record held by Cade McNown (1997 at Texas, 1998 at Miami) and his 31 completions were one shy of Troy Aikman's school record of 32 (USC, 1998).

In the final three quarters, he hit on 28 of 34 passes (.824) for 310 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. In the fourth quarter, he connected on 13 of 16 passes for 132 yards and two scores. UCLA trailed 28-7 near the end of the first half, but Olson drove the Bruins 80 yards, hitting Marcedes Lewis for four yards with 26 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 14 points.

Midway through the third quarter, his 45-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Drew completed a 73-yard drive and brought the Bruins to within seven points. However, UCLA still trailed by 17 entering the final quarter.

With 14:32 remaining in the game, Olson and Lewis hooked up for a nine-yard score to complete an 80-yard drive. UCLA trailed by seven points with 4:52 remaining when it took over on its four-yard line. He drove the Bruins 96 yards for the tying score, finding Marcus Everett in the back corner of the end zone with 44 seconds remaining in regulation. On the final drive, he was six of seven for 78 yards.

During the 2004 season, Olson ranked sixth in the Pac-10 (44th-NCAA) in total offense (222.58 yds.), sixth in the Pac-10 in passing (213.8 yds.), and fourth in the Pac-10 (43rd-NCAA) in passing efficiency (132.39 rating). In the Pac-10, his average of 13.09 yards per completion was first among players with at least 100 completions and his 57.48% was fourth.

Olson's 2004 season ended in the second quarter of the Las Vegas (Dec. 23) Bowl, when he suffered a torn ligament in his left knee which required surgery.

In his last seven regular-season games of 2004, he completed 134 of 226 passes (59.29%) for 1,729 yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Olson began the 2003 season as the No. 2 quarterback, but found himself thrust to the forefront for the second straight year because of injury. He replaced an injured Matt Moore in the first half of the opener at Colorado and went on to appear in 12 games (nine starts). Olson became the fourth sophomore to pass for more than 2,000 yards in a season (2,067).

He began 2002 behind four-year starter Cory Paus. Olson started the final five games of the year after Paus suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Cal. Olson was also injured in that game and sat out the next contest against Stanford, before returning to start the season's last five games.

Olson made his first career start at Washington and became the first Bruin true freshman since Tom Ramsey in 1979 to win his initial road start. He also became just the third UCLA true freshman quarterback to start the game against USC, joining Ramsey and Cade McNown.

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