USC Football, Freshman Watch: Who Made The Best First Impression?

USC Football, Freshman Watch: Who Made The Best First Impression? by Jeremy Fuster

Longtime USC football fan Jake Olson fulfilled a livelong dream on Tuesday morning, as the blind long snapper participated in his first practice as a walk-on Trojan.

RELATED: 50 Greatest Trojans of the Last 50 Years

Afterwards, several Trojans had glowing reviews of Olson’s arrival on the practice field, including former Orange Lutheran teammate and current USC holder Conner Sullivan.

“We ecstatic for him, because we know what it means to us as players,” Sullivan said. “It’s a big deal being on this team, especially all he’s been through growing up.”

Olson gained notoriety in 2009 when then-coach Pete Carroll brought him around the USC football team while suffering from retinoblastoma, a form of eye cancer. The illness ended up costing him his eyesight later that year, with some of his last seeing moments being spent with the Trojans.

Since then, he’s picked up football as a long snapper and has found his way into USC with a Swim With Mike Scholarship, inspiring many along the way.

Here’s what teammates and former players had to tweet about Olson on Tuesday after his first practice:

Great to see @jakethesnakeo at his first practice today! Welcome To The Family. #FightOn — Adoree’ Jackson (@AdoreeKnows) September 15, 2015

Awesome that @jakethesnakeo can practice with the team now. Congrats bro I’m happy for you. — Scott Felix (@KingFelix47) September 15, 2015

Jake Olsen is a Trojan, and my teammate! As it should be! #FightOnSC pic.twitter.com/mQA846V6JZ — Zach Banner (@zachbanner73) September 15, 2015

Fight On bro ✌🏻️ https://t.co/g0ozFFOYqC — Hayes Pullard lll (@HayesPullard) September 15, 2015