Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown. Leading up to the start of weekly college football odds and Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
57: Nick Olsofka, OL (Sr.) — Holy Cross
Holy Cross has built itself into a Patriot League power and a threat to win multiple games in the 2022 FCS playoffs. Winners of three straight conference titles, the Crusaders hang their hat on strong defense and a physical offense. They finished 10-3 last season, including a 38-28 FBS win against UConn and a close 21-16 second-round loss to CAA co-champ Villanova. Holy Cross owned the No. 14 FCS scoring defense (18.5 PPG) and the No. 18 rushing offense (205.2 YPG).
The epitome of its brand of football is Nick Olsofka, a physical presence on the interior of the offensive line at 6-foot-4 and 289 pounds with some flowing hair out of his helmet.
A two-star recruit out of Louisville, Olsofka has helped set the tone up front since being a part of the rotation as a true freshman in 2018. He hit the starting lineup in 2019, starting five games at center and three games at guard. Olsofka continued to progress as a top offensive lineman in the Patriot League, earning All-Conference Second Team honors in the spring. And last season, Olsofka was selected as one of five team captains. He backed up that honor with his play throughout the year and was named an All-Conference First Team selection.
Every few seasons, a Patriot League team makes a run to the quarterfinals. With a ton of talent coming back, Holy Cross is a candidate to do it in 2022. HERO Sports preseason ranks the Crusaders No. 17 in our Preseason Top 25.
