Early Signing Period: 4-Star Tackle John Olmstead Signs with the Irish

Here is a list of the only two student-athletes at Metuchen, New Jersey’s St. Joseph High School to graduate early:

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, who graduated in 2014 and was, two years later, the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
2. John Olmstead, a 6-foot-6, 300 pound offensive tackle, who will enroll early and play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

If that doesn’t impress you, perhaps it was Olmstead’s 34 scholarship offers, including from the Oklahoma Sooners, Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Urban Meyer and Lincoln Riley came to St. Joseph’s personally to recruit Olmstead.

An anonymous source who evaluated the guard/tackle told Tom Loy that there are “no concerns” about Olmstead, despite the Loy’s opinion that the Jersey product flashed more during his sophomore campaign than his junior one.

“He’s a guy that will flourish in the weight room and just get better over time,” the source told Loy. “He’ll receive great coaching and as he improves physically, with strength and quickness, he’s going to better than some believe.”

Rich Hilliard, who coached Olmstead in high school, told the Bridgewater Courier News that “John’s legacy will last at St. Joe’s forever, as far as I’m concerned. He became the face of that whole school-community. What makes John so special is he’s so humble and such a nice kid. With so much fame going for him, the way he handles it is just unbelievable.”

Olmstead is ranked No. 180 in the 247 Sports Composite, the 19th best offensive tackle and the fourth-best player from New Jersey.