Ben Olson is back on the market

One of the most coveted recruits in the country hasn't played football for two years and is probably more comfortable in a suit and tie than a uniform. It's Ben Olson, the former All-American quarterback from Thousand Oaks, Calif. and EA SPORTS Elite 11 Camp alum who is a week away from finishing his two-year Mormon mission in Canada.

We spoke to his father, Rick, last night who said the Olson clan is heading up today (Monday) to spend some time in a family cabin in Montana before meeting Ben and touring the areas he's lived as a missionary.

And then the fun will begin. Rick Olson confirmed that the family has been looking at all recruiting options for Ben, who will have two months to decide if he wants to return to BYU or look at transferring to another D-I program without losing any time after red-shirting his freshman year at BYU.

Olson will have four years to play four and will likely have his choice of any school in America. Coming out of high school with the class of 2002, Olson was generally recognized as the top quarterback prospect in the nation. He’s a strong armed lefty with a cannon for an arm and above average athleticism. At the EA SPORTS Elite 11 three years ago, he was voted by his fellow campers as the unanimous choice as the top signal caller in the camp.

"Miami has called the school," Olson’s father said Sunday night, "and we'll look at Pac 10 schools as well as programs like Notre Dame, which heavily recruited him out of high school. And there is, of course, the possibility he'll return to BYU where his sister has one more year of school."

Contrary to what has been rumored on message boards, Ben isn't favoring one school over any other right now according to his father for a simple reason: the athlete hasn't been focusing on it yet.

"I've listened to a lot of people including coaches," Rick Olson confirmed. "For example, Karl Dorrell has been involved personally, but Ben has been focusing totally on his mission and won't deal with where he's going until after he's released (from his service). Then we'll sit down and talk it over. It's his decision, however, and he'll have to figure out what's best for him."