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Fansided

Westfield’s Ed Oliver makes his mark against Oklahoma

By Louis Roesch

Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; A Houston Cougars fan holds a sign after a play during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; A Houston Cougars fan holds a sign after a play during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston, Texas native Ed Oliver left his mark on the Oklahoma offense on Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium in the Houston Cougar’s 33-23 dismantling of the Sooners. The defense some would say started a little bit slowly but by the end of Oklahoma’s first possession that resulted in a Joe Mixon 32 yard TD run and 7-0 Sooners lead, Todd Orlando’s unit had an idea of what they needed to do.  Unleash the secret weapon.

At the forefront of the change was freshman Ed Oliver.  Spoken of as secret weapon during the Cougars’ preseason camp, the Houston native had Oklahoma’s Heisman hopeful quarterback Baker Mayfield running for his life.  Mayfield himself a Texas native had to be wondering what if as he fled every which way but loose from Oliver.  The Second Team All-USA defensive tackle had officially visited Oklahoma last September.  Eight months later on May 21, 2015, the Westfield High School standout committed to stay at home and be a Cougar.  He is one of 23 Houston natives on the U of H roster this season.

On September 3, 2016, the 6’2″ 290lb just 15 days shy of the day he officially visited Oklahoma was wreaking havoc in the Sooners backfield.  Oliver ended up on top of the stats sheet on the defensive side of the ball.  In his first start, Oliver recorded a team five solo tackles, assisted on two others and dropped Mayfield behind the line twice.  Houston ended the day with five sacks.

Facing second and five from the Oklahoma 48 yard line on their opening second half drive, Oliver pinned packed his ears and wrapped Mayfield for his first sack of his collegiate career and set the tone for the Cougars’ second half defense.  The no longer secret weapon of the Houston Cougars defensive front one upped that sack with 7:34 left in the game and the Sooners  trailing 33-17 dropping Mayfield for a three yard loss on a first and 20 at the Oklahoma 40 yard line.

Houston head coach Tom Herman could not find enough superlatives to describe his five star recruit and the consensus number 13 prospect that turned in a day one would expect of a senior leader on the team.

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“Upside is off the charts,” began Herman in his remarks about Oliver. “He’s a tremendously explosive, strong athlete. He’s a 6’1/2 290 pound kid that’s probably eight percent body fat. His traps touches his ears.The thing I love about Ed, the intangibles, the explosiveness, the speed and the power are great but Ed plays with a motor that is contagious. i love it. His play raises some of the play of the other guys because of how hard he goes.”

It may been just one game in the grand scheme of things but for Tom Herman and his defensive coordinator Todd Orlando the message sent by Oliver’s performance could not have been more hard hitting.  Look out BCS Bowl Committee here come the Cougars.

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