University of Houston Athletics
Oliver & Noble Named to Preseason Watch Lists
7/25/2018 3:12:00 PM | Football
Houston is only program in Texas with multiple players on Outland Trophy watch list.
HOUSTON -- Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver continues to cement his status as one of college football's most recognizable players Tuesday with the announcement of the Outland and Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch lists.
Oliver was one of two Houston players to appear on the Outland Trophy watch list, joining senior center Will Noble. Houston is the only program in the state of Texas with multiple players on the watch list for the award presented annually to the nation's top interior lineman.
With Tuesday's announcement, Oliver now appears on preseason watch lists for four national awards after being named to the Maxwell and Bednarik Award watch lists last week while Noble appears on two after making the list for the Rimington Trophy on Friday.
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The reigning Outland Trophy winner, Oliver will look to become only the second player in the Outland's history to win the award twice after becoming the first underclassmen to win the award in 2017. Nebraska center Dave Rimington was the award's first two-time winner, claiming the award in 1981 and 1982.
The only returning player of the five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy in 2017, Oliver will look to become the first defensive tackle to win the award presented to the nation's top defensive player since Aaron Donald claimed top honors in 2013.
It marks the second straight year the Houston native has appeared on preseason watch lists for the Outland, Nagurski, Maxwell and Bednarik Awards. The 2017 American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Oliver is one of only three defensive players to earn a spot on the Maxwell Award watch list, joining Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa.
A four-year starter for Houston at center, Noble enters his final collegiate season having started 32 of 33 games played. He started his career in Houston's 2015 American Conference and Peach Bowl Championship season, earning FWAA Freshman All-America honors in the process.
Will Noble | Sr. | C
Enters his final collegiate season after starting his career as an FWAA Freshman All-American in 2015 ... has started 32 of 33 career games played including all 12 games in 2017 ... leads all returning Houston players with 32 career starts ... was part of a 2017 line that did not allow a sack in five games ... named to the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list for the third straight year.
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.
