The Hickory Sportsman’s Club is pleased to welcome Carolina Panthers Tight End Greg Olsen as our featured speaker for the Spring 2016 meeting.

Gregory Walter Olsen is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami, and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

On July 28, 2011, Olsen was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2012 third round draft pick. During his first year with Carolina, Olsen was targeted by Cam Newton on 45 receptions for 540 yards. He also recorded 5 touchdowns.

2014 season
In the 2014 NFL season, Olsen had 14 receptions on 19 targets without a drop this season.  Olsen has not allowed a pressure in his 35 pass-blocking snaps. Through the first six weeks of the season, PFF has rated Olsen as the best tight end in pass block efficiency and receiving.   Through the first 7 weeks of the season, Olsen led all tight ends in receiving yards with 493, and had recorded at least five catches and 60 yards receiving in all but one game throughout the year.  Olsen finished the regular season with a career-high 84 catches, 1,008 receiving yards, as well as 6 touchdowns en route to the Panthers second consecutive NFC South division title. Olsen finished third in the NFL for receptions by a tight end and second for both yards on the season and yards per game. It was Olsen’s first 1,000 yard receiving season. For his efforts during the 2014–15 season he was voted to the 2015 Pro Bowl. Playing for Team Carter, Olsen had three receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns.

2015 season
On March 5, 2015, The Carolina Panthers signed Olsen to a three-year extension worth $22.5 million. The extension includes a $12 million signing bonus with an average annual salary of $7.5 million, according to Olsen’s agent Drew Rosenhaus.

During the Panthers week three matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Olsen caught 8 passes including two touchdowns and a career high 134 receiving yards. He also tied a career long reception of 52 yards. Through the first four weeks of the season Olsen had 17 receptions for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns. Olsen continued his high level of play during a week 6 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Olsen caught 7 catches for 131 yards along with a game winning touchdown with under a minute to play. The touchdown helped keep the Panthers undefeated season alive as they improved to 5–0 on the season. Olsen played well against the New Orleans Saints again later in the season. Olsen recorded 9 reception, including one on 4th down during the Panthers final drive, and 129 yards. Through the first 13 games of the year Olsen recorded 65 receptions for 969 yards and 6 touchdowns.

During the 2015 season Olsen set Panthers records for career receiving yards and receptions for a tight end, both were held by former Panther Wesley Walls. During the Panthers’ 41-38 victory over the New Orleans Saints to improve them to 12–0, Olsen caught nine passes for 129 yards and, during the game, passed Wesley Walls for most career receptions by a TE in Panthers’ history.

Olsen finished the 2015 regular season with 77 receptions with 1,104 yards and 7 touchdowns. Olsen was selected for his second consecutive Pro Bowl. He was also selected to the AP All-Pro second team.[23] According to PFF, Olsen ranked as the 2nd-best receiving tight-end in the NFL, behind only Rob Gronkowski.

In the NFC Divisional Round, Olsen hauled in six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown to help the Panthers to a 31-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks and an NFC Championship game matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. He caught six passes for 113 yards against the Cardinals to help the Panthers to a 49–15 win and a Super Bowl 50 berth against the Denver Broncos. In the Super Bowl, Olsen had 4 catches for 41 yards, but the Panthers lost 24-10.

source:  Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Olsen_(American_football)

Tuesday, May 17th – Rock Barn Golf and Spa. Meeting is only open to members of the Hickory Sportsman’s Club and a limited number of members’ guests.