7 prospects who will blow up the NFL Combine
By Jon Dove
Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
Height: 6 feet 3 inches
Weight: 292lbs
Most college football fans are familiar with Ed Oliver despite the fact that he played at Houston. He was a five-star recruit who jumped on the hype created by Tom Herman while he was still with the Cougars.
Oliver stayed with Houston after Herman took the Texas job and continued to dominate. His ability to disrupt an offense from the interior of the defensive line stood out.
It’s his initial burst and quickness out of his stance that makes him so effective. Oliver routinely beats the offensive linemen out of their stance and catches them off balance. His quickness will show up in drills like the 10-yard shuttle and the first leg of the 40-yard dash.
Oliver needs a strong showing at the Combine based on his overall measurements. He’s a little undersized when compared to most NFL defensive tackles. This is why his quickness and snap awareness are so important.
NFL teams need to be convinced that Oliver will be able to beat NFL offensive linemen off the line and penetrate the pocket.
A less-than-ideal Combine showing could push Oliver into the late-first round mix. His overall stock has seemed to cool off since the start of the year. In this recent mock draft, Mel Kiper Jr. had Oliver falling outside of the top-10.