Fullerton’s Olsen Heads List of Athletes Choosing Colleges

D.C. Olsen, a linebacker at Fullerton High School, said Wednesday he has orally committed to play football at Louisiana State.

Other athletes announcing their college choices Wednesday include Jeremy Brion, a Capistrano Valley defensive back who will attend California; Keith McDonald, an Esperanza quarterback headed for Utah; Adam Garcia, an El Modena tailback who will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Kim Brown, a Mater Dei volleyball player headed for San Diego State.

Olsen, a Times’ all-Orange County first-team selection, chose LSU over Brigham Young and Oregon State. He visited LSU last weekend.

Olsen, 6 feet 1 and 220 pounds, led Fullerton in tackles (78) and assists (48) last season.

He said he also will play catcher on LSU’s baseball team, one of the top programs in the nation. He was the county’s leading home-run hitter last season with 13.

“I’m really looking forward to going to LSU,” Olsen said. “I really liked the campus when I visited there.”

Brion, 6-1 and 200 pounds, turned down offers from Colorado, Oregon and Arizona State to commit to California. He had eight interceptions last season and also played tailback, rushing for 777 yards and 11 touchdowns.

McDonald, 6-2 and 205 pounds, chose Utah over Cal State Fullerton and Idaho State.

He passed for nearly 1,400 yards last season as Esperanza (14-0) won its first section title since 1979. He also set a school career record for touchdown passes (35).

Garcia, 5-9 and 170 pounds, turned down scholarship offers from Santa Clara and UC Davis. Garcia, who moved from quarterback to tailback last season after separating his shoulder in the opening game, rushed for 1,047 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Brown, a 6-1 middle blocker, chose San Diego State over USC and Colorado State.

A two-year starter at Mater Dei, Brown led the Monarchs to a third-place finish in the Angelus League and has been named to the Orange County coaches’ all-star volleyball game in June.