Ed Oliver Is Back For Thirds

Houston’s defensive tackle gobbled up awards as an underclassman and has already declared for the NFL draft. But as he enters his junior season, the Heisman hopeful is far from sated.

- Sam Khan Jr

Ed Oliver rocked the recruiting world in 2015 when the five-star defensive tackle spurned blue-blood programs to play for his hometown Houston Cougars. He surprised everyone again when he helped upend No. 3 Oklahoma and almost single-handedly dominated Lamar Jackson–led Louisville as a true freshman in 2016. (A rival coach once called him “the closest thing to the Tasmanian devil I’ve ever seen.”) Then, before he’d played a down of his junior season, he declared for the 2019 NFL draft; many project him to be the top pick. It was all part of his three-year “business trip” through the college ranks.

Before Oliver leaves Houston, the Heisman candidate and reigning Outland Trophy winner has unfinished business: leading the Cougars to a New Year’s Six bowl and collecting more hardware. ESPN caught up with the two-time All-American in late July, and Oliver proved to be as candid off the field as he is exceptional on it.

ESPN: Are you savoring your last year of college football?

OLIVER: Yeah. I find myself thinking, “Wow, this is my final rodeo in college.” I wanted to get to the [NFL] so fast that I missed out on a lot of the college experience. I chose a business trip when I decided to come to the University of Houston, and that’s exactly what it’s been. I ain’t come to college to have fun, but I got a lot done in a little bit of time.

How were you able to stay focused and pass up the fun stuff?