Colorado University Athletics
Buffs' Oliver Ready For Lead Role At Cornerback
August 03, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado cornerback Isaiah Oliver knows if he can make plays in practice, he can do it in games.
"Iron sharpens iron," Oliver said after Thursday's practice.
Indeed — and it's a formula that has worked well for the Buffs over the last two seasons.
Last year, it was a senior-laden secondary that tested CU's budding wide receiver corps every day. This year, those wideouts are the experienced crew, and they are providing a stiff test for Oliver and his fellow DBs in what might be the most competitive battle in camp on a daily basis.
The result has been big plays every day on both sides of the ball.
"It makes a tremendous difference to know that every single day you're going to come out here and go against the best receiving corps in the Pac-12," Oliver said. "You're coming out here covering Shay Fields and Devin Ross and Bryce Bobo, then when it comes to Saturday and the other teams brings what they have, it's not going to compare. You feel much better."
The second part of that formula is the interaction between the two groups. Not only do they challenge each other every play, they also discuss strategy — something Oliver said is vital.
"I know those guys are going to come and compete every play," Oliver said. "They show me different stuff and I'm going to ask them — why did you do this or that? They explain it, and we go back and forth like that, just so I can learn what a wide receiver is thinking and they can learn what a DB is thinking. That helps a lot."
Oliver is technically not a returning starter, as he started in just three games in each of his first two seasons. But he did play 440 defensive snaps last year, finishing with 25 tackles and 13 pass breakups, along with a game-clinching interception in a win over Stanford and a game-clinching punt return touchdown against UCLA.
This year, though, he has stepped into the spotlight. Now being touted as a possible high-round NFL draft pick (even though he is just a junior), Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 8 on its list of top 10 players in the Pac-12 returning in 2017.
He will also be the cornerback likely assigned to the best receiver on every team CU faces — a challenge he relishes.
"That's something I look forward to," Oliver said. "As a corner, you have to have that confidence, know that you're able to compete on Saturdays. I'm looking forward to it, to be able to go out and match up with the best wide receiver every week."
Along with his role as the Buffs' shutdown corner, Oliver has also assumed the reins of a team leader, particularly on a defense that is replacing eight starters. It's also a role he has embraced, and one for which he began preparing last season.
"I knew that was going to happen, so toward the end of last year I was watching those guys like Ted (Tedric Thompson) and Chido (Chidobe Awuzie), just to see how they lead and how the young guys follow them," Oliver said. "I knew that coming into this year, with all of them gone, people were going to be looking at me to be a leader, so I wanted to make sure I knew how to handle it, how to keep myself on the field and they can look at me and know what to do."
Oliver also makes sure to "walk the walk" when it comes to his actions. He was named the defensive winner of the John Wooten Award for outstanding work ethic during spring ball — a time when he was also a standout track athlete for the Buffs.
He's also doing his best to help CU's young defensive backs make the adjustment to the college game a smooth one.
"The young guys come from high schools all over the place and have been taught different things, different techniques," he said. "Once you get here, everybody has to do the same thing and do it the same way. It's tough, it takes time, but if I see them doing something wrong, I'm going to do my best to help them — that goes for all of the defense."
SCHEDULE: The Buffs will be back on the field Friday in light pads, then return to full pads for Saturday's practice and scrimmage at Folsom Field. The practice, open to the public, is set to begin at 10 a.m., but there will be no selfie/autograph session following the workout. Parking in lot 169 (adjacent to the practice fields) will be free, with paid parking available in the Champions Center garage.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
