Conner Olson, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound senior tackle from Monticello (MN) High, committed to Minnesota last May. Olson was named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State team at a recent Vikings game.
Olson helped lead the Magic to an 8-2 mark this past season, losing to Rogers 36-20 in the second round of the Class AAAAA, Section 6 playoffs.
Gopher Hole caught up with Olson to learn the latest on his senior season and upcoming career at Minnesota.
Gopher Hole: It was a terrific honor to be naming to the Minnesota Viking All-State team and you had several other honors like the KARE-11 All Metro team. What is the feeling when you hear those types of acknowledgments about an outstanding senior season?
Conner Olson: It is a really great thing receiving all of these awards and everything. A lot of it goes back to the coaches. A lot of guys push me really hard and push myself in the weight room. It is not really the material things that come to me, but it is really nice to get that acknowledgment, also putting the name of my school out there, too and getting that on the board.
Gopher Hole: You received this acknowledgement at TCF Stadium, where you are going to be playing. What is the feeling knowing that the next time you are on this field, your role will be much different? Does that make getting this award even more special with it being here?
Conner Olson: Yes. It definitely is. The first time I walked up for a varsity game, I couldn’t stop smiling. I kind of got that feeling now and I wasn’t going out to play. I was just standing on the field where I know that I am going to be playing the next four or five years of my career, which is really just a great experience. It was nice seeing all the fans here, even though they are wearing the wrong colors at the moment.
Gopher Hole: You had a terrific year this season and had perhaps the best record ever at Monticello. I know that you didn’t go quite as far as you wanted, but how pleased were you with your senior season?
Conner Olson: I was really pleased. We hadn’t had 8-win season since 1987, so it has been quite awhile since we reached that. We won our division (the North Central White district). It was really good. It was too bad that we didn’t make it as far as we could. The biggest heartbreaker was losing to St. Michael by that one point (27-26 in overtime in the season finale). Losing to the state champ by one point, it really goes to show you the caliber of our team. We just didn’t capitalize on a few key moments throughout the season. That was kind of the death of us, but overall, I was pretty proud of the team and I thought that we did really well.
Gopher Hole: Did that take a little bit of the sting out of it knowing that they at least won the state championship or not really?
Conner Olson: It was really good knowing that you are within one point of the team. We either led or were tied the entire game until overtime, so that is definitely something to be proud of. It is really nice to know that we are playing at the exact same level as a state winning team. It is a nice thing going forward. It is nice that all the young guys get that mentality in their heads.
Gopher Hole: It is kind of nice here that there are seven Minnesota commits named to the Viking All-State team. I know that you have bonded and built a close relationship with them. Does that make it even more special with those future teammates here today?
Conner Olson: Yes. You know it is really cool seeing just the same guys not just in a Gopher setting, but in another setting and seeing them having success on the high school field as well, is really cool. Seeing them again, they all live around the Cities for the most part, so I don’t see them too often, but when I see them at stuff like this, it is a pretty good time to say hello and catch up and all that good stuff.
Gopher Hole: You committed to Minnesota before the start of the season. There have been some changes in the coaching staff. What was your reaction when you heard that Coach Kill was going to be retiring?
Conner Olson: When Coach Kill happened, I was sitting in first hour Chemistry. I was a little shocked. A little dazed, first hour. I had just got done lifting and was ready to take a nap at that point and then I get this text that Coach Kill was retiring. I was a little shocked and whatnot. It is understandable what he is doing for his health. I totally respect that. I don’t want to say it was rough, but it was a bit of a shocker. It kind of set the mood for the rest of the day when I saw that, seeing my future head coach leave before I got there.
Gopher Hole: What about Coach Claeys? I don’t know how much of a relationship you have with him so far, but what was the reaction when you heard that he was going to be the new head coach?
Conner Olson: If it had to be anybody, I definitely would have said Coach Claeys. He has had a lot of success on the defensive side of the ball. It is a really good position to put him there. Keeping the staff there, for sure. From what I have built a relationship with Coach Claeys, I am really enjoying getting to know him and pretty happy to play for him the next four years or so.
Gopher Hole: Coach Limegrover is not going to be back. What was the feeling when you heard that news?
Conner Olson: That was pretty rough, too. I am still a little bit in limbo on that, not really having anyone to get to talk about that necessarily, not at least from a position coach point of view, so that is a little bit rough, but as commits, we are all sticking together. We are all supporting each other through this. The other linemen are still around. We are talking to each other. We are working through this. We’ll be fine. We are ready for whoever comes next.
Gopher Hole: What things are you going to be working on now that your season is over to get ready to play college football? Obviously, it is an adjustment from high school to college football.
Conner Olson: One thing that I have been wanting to get up there is weight gain. I would like to come into camp around 290. Right now, I am sitting around that 280 range. I just want to get to a solid 290. I want to work my way up to that weight, maybe cut a little, so I can have be healthy and stay fast. Weight as well attaining my agility and speed and strength has always been my main goal.