Trader Choses Iowa, Looks for Bright Future in Football

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(December 19, 2021 7:00 AM) Jackson High School football player Olando Trader says he looks forward to a day when he reunites with family in the West African country of Liberia.

In the meantime, he has a commitment of four or five years in Iowa.

Trader signed a national letter of intent to play football at the University of Iowa last week. 

The all-state football player expects to play cornerback at Iowa.

“I feel like I could really fit in their defense as I was watching their practice,” Trader told the HawkeyeReport during a recent visit. “They are a high energy team and very disciplined.

“I sat down and had many conversations with Coach Parker and I’ve got to tell you once that man gets talking, he doesn’t stop. I could easily understand him and where he was coming from.”

Trader had verbally committed to Central Michigan University last summer before opening up his recruitment. Since the summer, Trader has offers from Vanderbilt, Nebraska, Eastern Michigan, and Iowa.

“With Iowa, I knew I was going to a program that is very successful,” Trader said of his decision. “I was committed to CMU, but Iowa is more of a home.”

Trader called Liberia his “home” until age seven. He was in an orphanage at an early age until adopted by the Trader family of Jackson at age 7.

“I always had a desire to adopt and find a child with the greatest need,” mother Kristi Trader said. “I know that we have foster systems in the states, but I feel like these children have water, electricity and food.

“Liberia is one of the poorest counties in the world.”

Liberia emerged from a two decade civil war in 2003 – about the time Trader was born. An estimated 250,000 Liberian residents were killed and the country’s infrastructure was nearly destroyed because of the war. 

Trader worked with the organization Americans for African Adoptions Inc. But the process was a little bit more than fitting a need.

“It took us four years … it was so difficult,” Kristi said. “It blows my mind because these kids need homes.”

Kristi said her family is still in contact with Olando’s mother, aunt, a brother, and more recently his father.

“His father recently said hello on Facebook,” Kristi said. “Facebook is how we all keep in touch.”

But Olando dreams of a day he can return to Liberia and help his family.

“He has a drive that someday he wants to do something for them (his Liberian family) to make their living conditions better,” Kristi said. “He even talks about bringing them to the state.

“Olando sees the drastic difference between the living conditions he was raised in at an early age and where he is now.”

Olando believes his American home gave him a world of hope.

“The plan is – when I grow up – one day I want to go back to my family in Liberia and give them the second chance that I got … so they get a better future,” he said. “I feel like this is the next step in that direction.”

Trader hints of playing football beyond college.

Signing the letter of intent last week was witnessed by more than 100 students, coaches, and well wishers in the JHS library. 

“This school is high spirited and I love these guys,” Olando said. “They have been my family since my freshman year.”