University of Houston Athletics
Ed Oliver Named Lombardi Award Semifinalist
1/15/2018 12:00:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON â€" Already a consensus All-American and Outland Trophy winner, Houston sophomore defensive tackle Ed Oliver was named a semifinalist Monday for the Lombardi Award, presented to an NCAA Division I player, regardless of position, based on performance, leadership, character and resiliency.
Also The American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, Oliver became Houston's eighth consensus All-American in December, and the first since Andre Ware accomplished the feat in 1989, the same year he won the Heisman Trophy.
Seven finalists will be selected for the Lombardi Award by voters this week and announced Monday, Jan. 22. Four finalists will be invited to the Lombardi Honors presentation in Houston.
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Ed Oliver | DT | So. | Houston, Texas (Westfield HS)
- The Outland Trophy winner and The American's Defensive Player of the Year, Oliver leads the nation with a career average of 1.56 tackles for loss per game, totaling 39.5 tackles for loss in only 25 games played.
- Playing the nose spot in a three-man front, Oliver totaled 73 tackles in 12 games this season, despite missing three quarters of one game and being limited in the next four with a knee injury.
- His average of 6.1 tackles per game this season ranked third nationally among all defensive linemen. Oliver's 73 total tackles ranked second nationally among defensive tackles.
- Oliver's 16.5 tackles were second among defensive tackles while his average of 1.38 tackles for loss per game led all defensive linemen in The American.
- The Houston native led UH in tackles for loss (16.5), sacks (5.5), quarterback hurries (7), forced fumbles (2) and blocked kicks (1). He also had three pass breakups and one fumble recovery on the year.
- He recorded two double-digit tackle games this year, part of seven games with at least five tackles. He had five games this season with multiple tackles for loss and now has 13 career games with the distinction.
- Oliver closed out the regular season in style with a career-high 14 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks as he led a Houston defense that held Navy to its lowest point total (14), total yards (291) and rushing output (217) of the season in the 24-14 win.
