Ammon Olsen hopes to follow former BYU, SUU players into NFL

PROVO — Ammon Olsen stepped back into the indoor practice facility at BYU for his first of a pair of Pro Day workouts and looked around.

He felt home, as he looked around at wide receivers Mitch Mathews, Devon Blackmon, Terenn Houk and others to whom he would throw on a morning last week in Provo. He looked across the field at defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi — the ultimate prize of BYU’s 2016 draft class — and joked around with sophomore-to-be quarterback Tanner Mangum, who ascended to the starting role a few months after Olsen had transferred to Cedar City.

“It was great to see Mitch, Devon and Terenn, who were here when I was here. It was fun,” Olsen said, smiling as old reporters asked him a flurry of questions, just like the old days. “They are all easy to throw to, we’ve got some good timing and great athleticism. I think it went good.”

The 6-foot-3, 219-pound Olsen’s Pro Day experience March 25 in Provo was the first of two in-state events he would undergo before April’s NFL Draft.

The recent SUU graduate was 1 of 9 players from the Thunderbirds’ class of 2015 to take part in the program’s first-ever Pro Day Wednesday, a move sparked by potential NFL draft picks James Cowser, Miles Killebrew and LeShaun Sims, among others.

The event brought 20 NFL scouts to St. George, where they ran drills for 12 players.

Inclement weather forced SUU to move its Pro Day to Desert Hills High School, but the quarterback joined his teammates, even though he did not run most drills after performing well at BYU's Pro Day.

In addition to the SUU standouts, others at the workout included Dixie State linebacker Robert Metz, Thunderbirds receiver Justin Brown, and SUU kicker Trevor McGirr.

"I feel like I put my best foot forward today," Cowser said after Wednesday's pro day. "I really improved on everything I did. It was a good environment, and the measurements are out."

Cowser, Killebrew and Sims each received an invitation to last month's NFL Combine. But the trio also participated in SUU's first pro day. Cowser ran an unofficial 4.69 40, Killebrew had an unofficial 4.49, and Sims only participated in the broad jump, which he measured at 10 feet, 3 inches.

Just having a locally-run pro day has been a big step, one Cowser, Killebrew, Sims, Olsen and the rest have put in plenty of work to accomplish.

"A couple of years ago, I was wondering what Pro Day I would even go to," Cowser said. "I'd probably go to Utah State, maybe Utah. But this our pro day — it's SUU, right here.

"We won a conference championship, and we've got a lot of guys to have our own pro day. It's what I've been working on; it's so gratifying."

The extra workouts have proven necessary for Olsen, who was told he needed to show consistency for the 20 or so NFL scouts who have watched him in each locale.

“The NFLPA game was really good for me … and they want me to keep doing that and getting better," he said. "I’m working on being under center and hopefully, that paid off.”

Aside from his former teammates and former practice field, Olsen also felt comfortable in Provo for other reasons. His old SUU coach Ed Lamb is now the assistant head coach at BYU, and new BYU offensive coordinator Ty Detmer also worked with Olsen alongside a bevy of other quarterbacks with the local Quarterback Elite camp series.

The one-time Alta High standout tapped those QB Elite contacts while working in the offseason, spending time with former NFL star Kurt Warner at his private football field for workouts that focused on foot drills and different drops.

“Listening to him talk, he really helped me out,” said Olsen, who called Warner “a genius.” “He really helped me with certain things I can get better at. It was a great experience.”

Olsen’s drill times haven’t blown anyone away, but they also haven’t downgraded his stock. He ranks 35th out of 130 quarterbacks in one analyst’s mock draft list, and he’s been clocked at an unofficial 4.9 40-yard dash — anything faster than 5.0 seconds is considered quick for quarterbacks.

Even if Olsen’s name isn’t called on draft day, like former BYU and Southern Utah signal caller Brad Sorensen a few years ago, the younger QB is confident he’s picked up enough tips to make his way onto a professional roster. Feedback has been nothing but positive since wowing scouts at the NFLPA Bowl when he completed 7-of-13 passes for 71 yards and set up six field goals in an 18-17 win for the National team.

“They said I made a lot of NFL throws, and it was good to see,” Olsen said. “It’s been good feedback so far.”

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