Positional ranking: #4

Big Board ranking: #22

 

Overview

Position: DL

College: Houston

Class: Junior

Age: 21

 

Measurables

Height: 6’1 7/8”

Weight: 287 lbs.

Arm length: 31 3/4″

Hand size: 9 1/4″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: DNP

Vertical jump: 36.0”

Broad jump: 120.0”

Bench press: 32 reps

3-cone drill: DNP

Short shuttle: DNP

 

Strengths

Elite penetrator with a very quick first step. Twitchy athlete in a compact frame. Good awareness and instincts. Strong, violent hands. Beats double teams with leverage and quickness at the snap. Power and low center of gravity allows him to have success on bull rushes. Will use a rip move to get past blockers. Has some bend to get to the quarterback. Fearless shooting gaps to blow things up. Get-in-the-backfield mindset as a slasher. Usually hustles to join the action. Can deflect passes at the line of scrimmage. Scheme-versatile and has the skillset to play all over in the defensive front.

 

Weaknesses

Power could give him trouble at the next level. Length is average. Much of his production was based on winning at the snap. Can get too jumpy instead of relentlessly pursuing the quarterback. Sometimes lines up a yard off the line of scrimmage. Probably won’t be able to hold up consistently lining up over the center at the next level. Had a sideline confrontation with head coach Major Applewhite for wearing a jacket reserved for players that were suited up.

 

NFL comparison

Geno Atkins – Teams have apparently asked Ed Oliver about playing linebacker, but I think he will be best in an attacking role on the interior similar to the “undersized” Atkins.

 

Conclusion

Overall, Ed Oliver is a unique defensive lineman with a bowling-ball frame and top-notch explosiveness at the snap. I think he has the versatility to move around some, but Oliver should only be drafted on Day 1 as a 4-3 defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end.