Houston Cougars Athletic Communications
Reigning Outland Trophy winner returns for final season of action at Houston
HOUSTON – Named Sports Illustrated’s top player heading into 2018 last week, Houston junior defensive tackle remained in the news on Monday, earning a spot on The Sporting News’ Preseason All-America Team.
Monday’s announcement marks a second preseason All-America team for the 2017 consensus All-American and reigning Outland Trophy winner, having been named to Athlon Sports’ preseason team on June 19.
Ed Oliver | Jr. | DT
2017 Outland Trophy Winner as the first underclassmen to win the award … 2017 consensus All-American … has 39.5 tackles for loss in his first two years, second best in NCAA history among all players and best among all defensive tackles … leads all active players nationally with 1.56 tackles for loss per game … Houston’s leading returning tackler after totaling 73 stops in 2017 … has 139 tackles through two years … while playing the nose spot in a three-man front, totaled 73 tackles in 12 games, despite missing three quarters of one game and being limited in the next four with a knee injury … recorded an average of 6.1 tackles per game which ranked third nationally among all defensive linemen … his 73 total tackles ranked eighth nationally among all defensive linemen, second nationally among defensive tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss were second among defensive tackles while his average of 1.38 tackles for loss per game led all defensive linemen in The American … led UH in tackles for loss (16.5), sacks (5.5), quarterback hurries (7), forced fumbles (2) and blocked kicks (1) … also had three pass breakups and one fumble recovery … recorded two double-digit tackle games, part of seven games with at least five tackles … also tallied five games with multiple tackles for loss and now has 13 career games with the distinction.
