Blind long-snapper Jake Olson ready to join Trojans

“Someday, he’s going to snap in a game for us,” USC Coach Steve Sarkisian said of blind athlete Jake Olson. “When? I don’t know. But it will happen."

Staff Writer

Sept. 15, 2015 3 AM PT

Jake Olson’s dream of playing for USC’s football team is apparently coming true.

Olson, a blind long-snapper who played at Orange Lutheran High, wrote on his Twitter feed Monday night:

“Tomorrow I walk out onto Howard Jones field not as a fan or honorary member, but as a player for the USC Trojans! #fighton”

The sixth-ranked Trojans begin preparations for Saturday’s game against Stanford on Tuesday at 8:15 a.m.

Olson, who lost one eye at 10 months and the other at 12 years old, was taken in by the Trojans and former coach Pete Carroll as a preteen. He went on to play high school football and golf. He was awarded a “Swim with Mike” scholarship to USC, awarded annually from the Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship fund.

Olson needed to be cleared by the NCAA and USC to participate in football.

Trojans Coach Steve Sarkisian told The Times in April that Olson would one day take the field in a game for the Trojans.

“Someday, he’s going to snap in a game for us,” Sarkisian said. “When? I don’t know. But it will happen.

“When that day comes, it will be awesome.”