Gunner Olszewski’s time as a wide receiver appeared to be little more than a minor footnote on his résumé when he entered the NFL draft process: during his junior year in high school and with his older brother playing quarterback, he played receiver but was forced to abandon the position after he broke his hand in three places and had to wear a cast for the remainder of the season. From that point on, Olszewski was exclusively a defensive back.
At Division II’s Bemidji State, Olszewski blossomed into a difference maker at cornerback: playing 42 games over four seasons, he registered 310 tackles, 13 interceptions — one of which returned for a touchdown — and 40 pass breakups as well as a sack and three forced fumbles.