Oliver says he wants to play in Cougars’ bowl game
Despite draft status, hobbled DT plans to finish college year
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — University of Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver may not be ready to say goodbye just yet.
Oliver, widely projected as a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL draft, said Friday that he plans to play in the Cougars’ bowl game.
“As far as I know right now, yeah,” Oliver said after UH ended the regular season with a 52-31 loss to Memphis. “I want to play every game.”
UH (8-4) will not learn its postseason destination until Dec. 2. The likely bowl options include the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Frisco Bowl in suburban Dallas and Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Oliver was in the starting lineup Friday for the first time since Oct. 20, when he suffered a bruised right knee on a low block against Navy that forced him to miss four games.
But Oliver did not play the second half after his knee got rolled up. The Cougars planned to use the two-time All-American and Outland Trophy winner as a passrusher in third-and-long situations. “But we never ran (the package), so I never got to touch the field again,” Oliver said.
Television cameras showed a visibly emotional Oliver being comforted on the sideline with 5:35 left in the game.
After the game, Oliver posted on his personal Twitter account: “SETBACKS AFTER SETBACKS. I’m just tryna be great that it Lord.”
Coach Major Applewhite said the original timetable was for Oliver to return Nov. 10 against Temple, which would have meant missing four games.
He attempted to return a week earlier for a game at SMU but felt discomfort in his knee during pregame warm-ups and was ruled out.
“He wanted to get back with his team,” Applewhite said. “That set him back a few weeks.”
Asked how frustrating the past month has been with the injury, Oliver said: “I got going … that’s all that matters.”
Oliver also received national attention Nov. 15 when television cameras caught him yelling and having to be restrained during a sideline incident with Applewhite just before halftime of a 48-17 win over Tulane.
In the past two weeks, Oliver has dropped from No. 2 to No. 7 on ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s Big Board of draft prospects.
After walking off the field Friday, Applewhite said he has not been told by Oliver that he is done for the season.
“I don’t know,” Applewhite said. “I don’t think so. That’s not the impression I’ve ever gotten from him.”