Isaiah Oliver

in our view

Oliver put his name on the NFL radar when scouts arrived in Boulder to see past secondary prospects like Chidobe Awuzie, Ahkello Witherspoon and Tedric Thompson, yet it was #26 who kept making most of the plays. A well-accomplished decathlete in track, he is a balanced athlete with the competitive chops to challenge receivers up and down the field. Overall, quicker receivers will give him trouble, but Oliver is a classic press-man corner in the NFL with the height, length and athleticism to match up with size outside the numbers.

strengths

Well-built for the position with the arm length to recover when he finds himself out of position. Patient feet to stay in position and react to receiver movements. Shows bounce in his feet and smooth hips to shadow routes in his transition. Not shy using the sideline as an extra defender. Instinctive ability to judge/attack the catch point (35 passes defended). Ball searches and fights to the ground. Smart angles to the football as a run defender. Standout on all special teams coverages, including averaging 9.5 yards per punt return (19/180/1). Ran track at Colorado and won the 100-meter (10.82), 400-meter (48.15) and long-jump (24-1) at the 2017 Pac-12 Championships. Reliable character and a “phenomenal” person, according to Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre. Productive collegiate resume. Athletic bloodlines – father (Muhammad) was a NCAA track All-American as a decathlete at Oregon and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft as a cornerback; uncle (Damon Mays) played wide receiver at Missouri and was a ninth round pick in the 1991 NFL Draft. – Dane Brugler 2/20/2018

weaknesses

Upright pedal and transition. Movements lack suddenness. Enough speed for the position, but doesn’t close ground on routes once beat. Footwork needs cleaned up in/out of route breaks. Delays at the top of patterns and is late driving on throws/plays in front of him. Late to get his head turned and find the football. Not soft, but not the most eager tackler either. Only three career interceptions, an especially low number compared to his passes defended. Missed two games as a junior due to a right leg injury (Oct. 2017). – Dane Brugler 2/20/2018

Earned first-team All-State and All-Section honors as a senior, when he also garnered All-Arizona Super Top 25 honors and was ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect in the state of Arizona (Scout.com; No. 24 by the Arizona Republic)

Was a second-team All-State and first-team All-Section as a junior

Also captured one of the uniquely named awards out there his senior year: he was Friday Night Fever’s Defensive Player of the Year

The owner of a consistent 37-inch vertical leap, he blocked an incredible nine kicks (field goals or extra points) in his prep career

As a senior, he caught 50 passes for 1,352 yards, averaging just a shade over 27 yards per catch, with 12 touchdowns and a long of 79; he had seven games with over 100 yards, and 10 receptions that exceeded 50 yards in length

Rushed four times for 64 yards and two more touchdowns, and had 125 kick return yards; in all, he had 66 touches for 1,541 yards, averaging 23.3 yards for each

On defense, he recorded 64 tackles (54 solo, four for losses), with seven interceptions, eight passes broken up, five blocked kicks and a hurried pass

As a junior, he caught 22 passes for 413 yards (18.8 per) and seven touchdowns, with 256 kick return yards

He had 56 tackles on defense (43 unassisted), with four interceptions, two deflections and two fumble recoveries along with four blocked kicks. In his two-year varsity career, he had 111 offensive/special team touches for 2,212 yards, which averaged to 19.9 yards every time the ball was in his hands

Top games as a senior: in a 45-0 win over Perry, he caught eight passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns; in a 49-19 win over Dobson, he had five receptions for 161 yards and three touchdowns; and in a 40-35 win over Desert Ridge, he caught five balls for 186 yards and was in on 10 tackles on defense

As a junior, in a 28-14 win over Westview, he had a career-high 14 tackles (13 solo), with two catches for 57 yards a score

Under coach Scooter Molander (the former Colorado State quarterback), Brophy Prep was 10-4 his senior year, claiming the Section IV title and reaching the state semifinals, 5-7 his junior season

He lettered four times in track and field; a decathlete (like his father), he had personal bests of 10.70 in the 100-meter dash, 14.05 in the 110-hurdles, 36.53 in the 300-hurdles, 47.13 in the 400-meter dash and 23-2½ in the long jump

He was All-State in track as a junior and senior; he was state champion in both hurdle events (110 and 300) and was on Brophy Prep’s state champion 4x400 team (he was the anchor)

He finished second in the state meet in the 300-hurdles and sixth in the long jump.

Born Sept. 30, 1996 in Phoenix, Ariz.

Lists his “hobby” as spending time with his family – he has three brothers and three sisters

Father (Muhammad), played cornerback at the University of Oregon and was a world-class decathlete (an NCAA track All-American); he was selected in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and played five seasons in the league with five teams (Denver, Green Bay, Kansas City, Miami and Washington)

An uncle (Damon Mays) was a wide receiver at Missouri and in the NFL with Houston and Washington

He is very active in his community, working as a referee for youth flag football games through Vista Montessori and has worked weekends with the St. Vincent de Paul Society serving meals to the underprivileged.

2017

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	0.0	1.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	26.0	0.0	12.0	0.0	20.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	20.5	41.0	2.0

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
3.2	5.0	0.0	7.0	16.0

2016

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	0.0	1.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	34.0	1.0	7.0	0.0	23.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
10.5	15.0	1.0	68.0	158.0