Cougars willing to hand Oliver a shot on offense
Crossover role likely to enhance profile for Heisman voters
On the first series of the Hawaii Bowl, the University of Houston had the ball at the 1-yard line.
The play call “12 Ed” came from the sideline.
“I saw Ed run on the field and was like, ‘Oh yeah, we’re going to score,’ ” quarterback D’Eriq King said. “I told him to get into the end zone.”
Ed Oliver, the Cougars’ AllAmerica defensive tackle, scored the first rushing touchdown of his college career in the loss to Fresno State. At the time, the decision to use the 6-3, 292-pound Oliver out of the backfield might have turned a few heads and received a few chuckles.
And while a meaningless postseason bowl game was the perfect time to try out Oliver in the backfield, the strategy may not be as far-fetched this season.
While the case can be made to use the talented Oliver in a crossover role on offense, so is the motive: As a defensive player who happens to be a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, the Cougars will have to get creative this season for Oliver to have any shot at college football’s top individual award that is historically earmarked for a quarterback or running back.
“Unfortunately for a defensive lineman, there’s some entertainment value that goes into the Heisman Trophy,” coach Major Applewhite said. “Sometimes they have to cross the white line with the ball to get people’s attention.”
Oliver, the reigning Outland Trophy winner, is on the preseason watch lists for every major national award he is eligible. With the Cougars set to open the season Saturday at Rice, Oliver’s name is being mentioned among preseason Heisman Trophy candidates such as Stanford running back Bryce Love, last year’s runner-up; Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor; and a group of quarterbacks that includes Jake Fromm (Georgia), Khalil Tate (Arizona), Shea Patterson (Michigan), Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama), Will Grier (West Virginia) and Trace McSorley (Penn State).
Helping Oliver’s case is he already has become somewhat of a household name before the start of the season. Sports Illustrated and ESPN tabbed him the best player in college football, and Oliver is being projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL draft. That buzz could help offset the fact Oliver plays defense and for a school outside the Power Five establishment. It also wouldn’t hurt for the Cougars to challenge for a New Year’s Six bowl.
“It was fun (playing running back in the bowl) but I’m not going to fixate my mind on things like that,” Oliver said when asked about a potential role on offense. “We’ve got big expectations. That’s not why I’m here. I play defensive line.”
Earlier this summer, Applewhite said the possibility of using Oliver on offense came down to getting “the ball in your best player’s hands.” Along with using Oliver in the backfield, can you imagine UH having Oliver line up at tight end in goal-line situations? Or have Oliver take a shotgun snap and throw a pass? Or kick an extra point?
“I’ve got the green light from the head man, so that’s the No. 1 key,” offensive coordinator Kendal Briles said. “The guy is the most talented guy on the team, so if we can incorporate him down there then we’ll do that.”
Oliver has been dominant on the defensive side with 39.5 tackles for loss, the most ever for a defensive tackle through two seasons. But with the last 20 Heisman winners either quarterbacks or running backs, Oliver is likely to need some two-way highlights to gain the attention of national voters.
The only primarily defensive player to win a Heisman Trophy is Michigan’s Charles Woodson, who was used at cornerback, receiver and punt returner when he won in 1997. The last player from a non-Power Five school to win was BYU’s Ty Detmer in 1990.
“Ed can do everything,” King said. “He could probably play quarterback if we wanted to.”
Asked about his arm, Oliver, programmed as a defensive player, playfully flexed his bicep.
But if needed, Oliver seems warm to the idea of playing different positions on the field.
“If I can help …”