Branden Oliver emerged as a fan favorite in 2014 as the hardworking, undrafted rookie came out of nowhere to lead the Bolts in rushing.
On Thursday, the popular running back inked a one-year deal to return to the Chargers.
Oliver burst onto the scene as a rookie when injuries thrust him into action after he defied the odds to make the 53-man roster. He appeared in 14 games with seven starts, rushing for 582 yards and three touchdowns along with 36 receptions for 271 yards and another score.
The 5-8, 208-pound Oliver sparked the Bolts to a 31-0 Week 5 victory over the New York Jets, earning Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors after rushing for 114 yards and scoring two touchdowns against the NFL's top ranked rushing defense. During the win, Oliver became the first Charger with a 50-yard catch and a 50-yard run in the same game since Lionel "Little Train" James in 1985. He was the first NFL rookie to accomplish that feat since Clinton Portis in 2002.
Oliver followed that up with his second straight Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award after rushing for 101 yards against the Oakland Raiders. He cemented the win by bullying his way into the end zone for the game winning touchdown with 1:56 remaining.
Unfortunately, the running back missed the past year and half after suffering a pair of injuries. The first was a toe injury on Nov. 1, 2015 against the Baltimore Ravens. Then, after an impressive start to training camp last season, he ruptured his Achilles in the third preseason game and was lost for the entire year.
In addition to his prowess as a jack of all trades running back, Oliver is a proven special teams performer as well. He served as the team's primary kickoff returner in 2015, averaging 24.6 yards per return before being placed on the reserve-injured list.
The Chargers also announced that safety Adrian Phillips signed his Exclusive Rights tender. Phillips appeared in 14 games with six starts last season, notching 40 tackles, three passes defensed and one interception.
Take a look through the top photos from Branden Oliver's career with the Chargers.
Sunday, December 14, 2014, The Chargers host the Denver Broncos in their week 15 match-up at the Q.
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) jumps in the end zone for a touchdown run during an NFL regular season game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014 in San Diego. The Chargers won the game 31-0. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver #43 and Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Josh Mauga #90 during an NFL game played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday Oct. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Zito)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) returns a kick off during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver #43 in action against the St. Louis Rams during an NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday Nov. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Zito)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver runs the ball during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) heads downfield during a field goal attempt during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Oakland, CA. The Chargers won the game, 31-28. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) squeezes through a hole in the line in action against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday November 1, 2015 at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) catches an apparent touchdown pass that gets reversed on review due to a penalty during the 2016 NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 in San Diego. The Chargers won the game 19-3. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) runs upfield during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday, December 14, 2014. The Broncos defeated the Chargers 22-10 in Week 15. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) hands off the ball to running back Branden Oliver (43) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver looks on during warm ups before the Detroit Lions play the San Diego Chargers in a football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) runs upfield during an NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium on October 19, 2014. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers 23-20 in Week 7. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
San Diego Chargers Branden Oliver (43) during an NFL football game against theMiami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. at SunLife Stadium.
(AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) runs upfield during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Saturday, December 20, 2014. The Charges defeated the 49ers 38-35 in overtime in Week 16. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver #43 in action in the first quarter in the game against the San Francisco 49 ers at Levis Stadium during an NFL game in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday, Dec. 20 , 2014. (AP Photo/David Seelig)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver #43 in action in the second quarter in the game against the San Francisco 49 ers at Levis Stadium during an NFL game in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday, Dec. 20 , 2014. (AP Photo/David Seelig)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver #43 during an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders played at Qualcomm Stadium on Oct. 25, 2015. (Michael Zito/AP Images for Panini)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver runs for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver celebrates after scoring during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) hands the ball to running back Branden Oliver (43 ) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) runs during the NFL regular season game between the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 in San Diego. The Raiders won, 37-29. (Ric Tapia via AP)
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) heads downfield during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, in San Diego, CA. The Chiefs won the game, 23-20. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Diego Chargers running back Braden Oliver (43) runs upfield during an NFL game against the Detroit Lions at Qualcomm Stadium on September 13, 2015. The Chargers defeated the Lions 33-28. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Chargers lose 10-23 to the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium
Saturday, August 29, 2015 at Qualcomm Stadium, Chargers fall to the Seahawks 16-15 in the third Preseason Game of 2015
Chargers defeat the Arizona Cardinals in week 2 of preseason 22-19 with a last second field goal
San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver moves upfield while playing the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
