Olsen brothers leaving Notre Dame

First it was quarterback Chris Olsen leaving South Bend, Indiana and the Notre Dame football program for "personal reasons". Now, superstar tight end prospect Greg Olsen is looking at Touchdown Jesus in his rearview mirror. Where are they headed?

"I'm in the car heading to UVA now," Chris Olsen said late last night. Olsen, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound signal-caller, received his release from Notre Dame this past week and has decided to join Al Groh and company. "I sign everything on Monday, start classes on Wednesday and join the team then as well. I have to sit out this season and then I'll have three years of eligibility left."

Olsen, who was the No. 17 pro-style quarterback in the country as a senior in high school, chose Notre Dame over Virginia and others back in 2002. However, he committed to Bob Davie and not Ty Willingham. Willingham took over for Davie during the recruitment of Olsen and he signed with the Irish.

"If I had to do it all over again, I would have looked at Virginia a lot harder," he said. "But I don't have any regrets. Notre Dame was a good experience, it just didn't work out for me the way I wanted or expected it to."

Selected as the Offensive MVP in the spring’s Blue-Gold Scrimmage, Olsen was the No. 2 quarterback heading into this season. However, freshman Brady Quinn has made a strong push for the top slot behind Carlyle Holiday.

"It wasn't a football decision only," said Olsen. "But I was the backup and I would probably have played some this year. Things just didn't work out."

Now his brother Greg, the No. 2 tight end in the country and No. 10 on the Rivals100 last season, is headed elsewhere.

"I should get my release today," said the 6-foot-6, 235-pounder. "I'm heading home now and then off to Miami. I should sign everything with Miami tomorrow and will redshirt this season. I'll have four years of eligibility left."

Once Chris left Notre Dame, his brother had little to keep him in South Bend.

"Miami was always my favorite, but sometimes you choose a school for reasons beyond what you like," he said. "I chose Notre Dame because it would be easier on my family for both Chris and I to be on the same team. Now that we're both leaving, we decided to do what was right for us."

Olsen said that Kellen Winslow Jr. is expected to turn pro after this season, opening up the tight end job for competition in 2004.

"Miami is a great place and was where I wanted to be," he said. "I probably should have just picked them, but I really wanted to play with Chris."