Dante Olson, the two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week has added to his haul of accolades after a phenomenal start to the 2018 season, being named the STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week, the organization announced Monday.

Olson posted 16 tackles against Drake, seven of which were solo. He also had 3.5 TFLs, forced a fumble, broke up a pass, and posted two sacks in the span of three plays.

Olson is tied for third in the FCS with a total of 29 tackles and leads the Big Sky in average tackles per game with 14.5. He also leads the Big Sky and is tied for sixth nationally in sacks with three total at an average of 1.5 per game

More on Olson…

2018: Named ROOT Sports Big Sky Defensive Player of the week on 9/3 … Repeated as ROOT Sports Big Sky Player of the Week on 9/10 and College Sports Madness Player of the Week on 9/9 ... Named College Sports Madness Big Sky Defensive Player of the week on 9/3 ... In the first game of the 2018 season (UNI, 9/1), Olson led the Grizzly defense with 13 total tackles ... Also recorded an interception which he returned 26 yards, a sack for a loss of 9 yards, one PBU and one QB hurry ... Coming off a performance that earned him Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors the week before vs. UNI (9/1), Olson impressed yet again recording 16 tackles (career high), 2 sacks (career high), 3.5 TFL's (career high), one forced fumble and one PBU ... Dante is expected to be a leader and major contributor on defense and special teams in his remaining time as a Grizzly.

2017: Second Team All-Big Sky on Special Teams… Academic All-Big Sky … Hauck Family Special Teams Player of the Year … Recorded 38 tackles, 16 of them solo … Had 2 TFLs and one sack against Idaho State for a loss of seven yards … Blocked a kick against Northern Colorado … Logged QB hurries against Savannah State and Eastern Washington … Played in all 11 games for UM … Once again awarded the William (Robi) Robertson Memorial Athletic Scholarship at the annual Lindsay Awards Banquet

2016: Academic All-Big Sky... Hauck Family Special Teams Player of the Year … Olson played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman at linebacker … Recorded 29 tackles, seven of them solo … Had two tackles for loss for six yards, also recorded a sack … Had back to back games with seven tackles against Miss. Valley State and Sacramento State … Recorded both tackles for loss and also his only sack in the Miss. Valley State game... Awarded the William (Robi) Robertson Memorial Athletic Scholarship at the annual Lindsay Awards Banquet.

2015: Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year … Was a redshirt freshman

HIGH SCHOOL: Olson was a four-year letterman in football at Cascade Christian HS, where his team won four conference championships (10-3 in 2011; 13-1 in 2012; 12-2 in 2013, and 8-3 in 2014) in a row... Three-year team captain and defensive player of the year.... Also led his team in tackles for three seasons...Voted defensive MVP of his conference and the state two times... His senior year he had 135 tackles, 5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles; rushed for 583 yards and 8 TDs... named to the state's All-Star Football Game... A three-time all-state selection at linebacker and tight end (as a senior) ... His prep coach was Jon Gettman.... Also lettered in basketball and tennis.

PERSONAL: Olson carries a 4.0 GPA .... A Management major … His parents are Linda and Jeff Olson of Medford … His dad Jeff was the former head football coach at Southern Oregon University … Serves as a pen-pal mentor to a class of underprivileged kids in Northern California

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