Heisman Rankings 2018: Top 20 Heisman Trophy candidates

When it comes to Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, there may be no better player in all of college football. In fact, he has already declared for the 2019 NFL Draft, and many expect him to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft class, he is that good.

Heading into his third season with the Cougars, Oliver has already accomplished so much during his time with the school. The first freshman to win the Bill Willis Award back in 2016, which is given to the nation’s top defensive lineman, the 20-year old followed that up with an even better 2017 campaign.

A two-time All-American, Oliver won the Outland Trophy last season, an award that is presented to the best interior lineman in the country, and he should be in for even more hardware in 2018. The AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, he is an explosive player, and despite Houston not being a big-time college football program, he is as big-time an NFL prospect as there is.

While defensive players hardly ever win the Heisman Trophy, in fact, only Charles Woodson from Michigan did it, and he needed the help of his return skills to bring home the award, Oliver has a legitimate chance to be No. 2. He can dominate a game like very few players we have seen in recent memory and is still growing as a player.

From a five-star recruit at Houston (TX) Westfield High School to a 6-foot-3, 290-pound monster along the Cougars defensive line, Oliver is the total package. He is going to give the opposing quarterbacks fits in 2018 and will be in line for some serious hardware before all is said and done.