The defensive line is expected to be a strength for UH this season.
Oliver and Carter headline deeper defensive front
A year ago, as the University of Houston prepared to host the Red & White spring football game, Jerard Carter was in bed nursing an injured foot and doubting his future.
“I was in bed thinking I’ll never be the same player I was before,” said Carter, a fifth-year senior defensive end.
On the first day of spring practice, Carter broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. He spent the next five months recovering from the injury, only to injure it again in a non-contact drill early in preseason camp.
Carter missed seven games before returning for the last month of the regular season and Hawaii Bowl, registering all but one of his 5½ tackles for loss in the final three games.
Strength up front
A full season with a healthy Carter, along with the presence of defensive tackle Ed Oliver and arrival of TCU transfer Isaiah Chambers, is one reason the Cougars believe their three-man front should be the strength of the defense this season.
While a majority of the attention will be on the three designated starters, defensive line coach A.J. Blum said the unit’s success will depend on the development of a rotation that could include anywhere from six to eight players. That group includes Payton Turner, Zach Vaughan, Aymiel Fleming and Blake Young.
“We can’t do it with just three guys,” Blum said. “We have to be able to have guys that are interchangeable and can keep us fresh.”
How well the Cougars fare up front will depend on Oliver, a consensus All-American who is being mentioned as a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate. Oliver, who has already announced he will enter the 2019 NFL draft, has 39 ½ tackles for loss in 25 career games.
“The defensive line is going to be really good,” Oliver said. “We’re going to turn it up a notch.”
With the continuing development of younger players, a healthy Carter and Chambers — the No. 7 defensive end nationally in the class of 2016 — expected to slide into the defensive end spot vacated by the graduation of Nick Thurman, the Cougars could be in position to put more pressure on the quarterback.
High-ceiling talent
At the least, he should take some pressure off Oliver, who has regularly faced double- and sometimes triple-team blocks in his two seasons.
“I think the biggest is when you look at the guys we have in our room there’s a high ceiling on a lot of those guys,” Blum said. “The best is yet to come in regards to their ability and what they are capable of doing. The opportunity to earn the right to rush the passer by stopping the run is going to pay dividends.”
Being back on the field has changed Carter’s perspective.
“Not having it, it really made me cherish every moment,” Carter said. “I didn’t take it as serious before. Now that I have it back it’s everything to me.”