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S/LB Nate Oliver (official thread)

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Mimicking Ohio State:

St. Edward, a Division I state semifinalist last season, plans to take advantage of the multitalented athletes it has returning on defense.

"We're actually having two safeties this year," standout senior safety and Ohio State recruit Nate Oliver said. "So, I'm going to be able to roll down and play some outside linebacker and Diauntae [Morrow] also will play linebacker and safety. It's going to be pretty much like the Ohio State defense, and what they did with Donte Whitner [former Glenville star and 2006 first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills]."

Morrow, another of the Eagles' gifted seniors, has scholarship offers from Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Bowling Green and the University of Akron.

- Eddie Dwyer
 
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Week 8: St. Edward vs. St. Ignatius
Mold casting
Some strong advice from his dad shapes a bright football future for St. Edward safety Nate Oliver

Thursday, August 24, 2006
Eddie Dwyer
Plain Dealer Reporter

St. Edward safety Nate Oliver is considered one of the top 15 players in Ohio, which has more than 700 teams.

He graces the cover of Ohio High magazine's preseason publication, and in February became Ohio State's first oral commitment for the class of 2007.

Watching the 6-0, 205-pound senior perform on defense, special teams and as an effective alternate at running back/slot back, one cannot help but notice how naturally his skills flow with the game.

Football had to be in his blood from Day One.

Well, maybe in his blood, but not in his heart and mind.

"Honestly, I didn't even want to play football," Oliver said. "I was a baseball player growing up, a second baseman, a shortstop and a center fielder, a leadoff hitter. My dad made me play football in the fifth grade. And I was always like, Football is not my sport; I like baseball a lot better. I'm much better at baseball.'

"I played baseball up until about the eighth grade, then my dad said, No more baseball; you're sticking with football.' "

So, father did know best.

Nate Oliver Sr., a former John Adams fullback/middle linebacker, saw his son's potential and his decision resulted in Oliver helping St. Thomas More to two CYO city championships and one runner-up finish.

Although some thought Oliver might follow in the footsteps of many St. Thomas More athletes by attending St. Ignatius, he chose St. Edward.

"I remember in the sixth grade, Jon Gannon came and talked to us," Oliver said, referring to the former St. Thomas More mainstay and St. Ignatius three-sport standout. "And I was like, Jon Gannon, oh man.' He's a legend here at St. Thomas More and I thought about going to Ignatius because of him.

"But in the eighth grade, I looked at [St. Edward coach John Gibbons] and the way he coached, the players at St. Ed and everything. I just loved the way their defense played."

One of the leaders on an Eagles squad many have projected to be among Ohio's top three big-school programs, Oliver is eager to again turn potential into reality.

"With the talent we have, there is no reason for us to lose," he said, wearing an expression as firm as his dad's decision.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-5169
Click to expand...

http://www.cleveland.com/hsfootball/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1156235411207600.xml&coll=2
 
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Even Better Person ​
Than Player​

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St. Ed's Nate Oliver is a standout both on and off the field​

By Erik G. Pupillo​
The Gridiron Gazette​


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Nate Oliver has made no secret of his affinity for Ohio State Football and his appreciation of a certain Buckeye legend.​
Oliver, a 6-foot, 205-pound bruising pounder senior safety from St. Edward, claimed he verbally commited as early as he could to OSU because he spent much of his youth watching the Buckeyes play on fall saturdays. He also shares stories of how his father would show him tapes of former OSU and Oakland Raiders great Jack Tatum - one of footballs greatest safeties - in order so he could model his game after "The Assassin."​
Oliver eventually might be the latest in a lenghty line of great Buckeye safeties. He made nearly 100 tackles and delivered more than his fair share of bone-jarring hits for an Eagles team that went 12-1 and was a few minutes away from advancing to the OSHAA Division 1 State Finals game in 2005.​
Oliver delivered an "assassin-esque" performence against Cincinnati Elder at "The Pit" last season. He knocked the Panthers tailback out of the game in the first quarter, and, despite suffering a concussion from his wicked tackle, Oliver returned to the game and delivered another crunching on an Elder receiver late in the game to put a punctuation mark on his black -and-blue performance and Ed`s 34-17 win.​
As catchy as it would be to nickname Oliver "The Junior Assassin" for his countenance and performance on the field, it`s more tempting to label him "Saint Nate" for the type of person he is off of the field.​
"Nate is truly one of the most exceptional people I`ve ever met," said Eagles teammate Tarik Read, who will play linebacker/fullback this season. "He is so humble when he could be in a position not to be. Nate just represents the working man - he represents the guy who could easily say, "Hey, I deserve this and I deserve that," but he does whatever is asked of him and does it to the best of his ability.”​
“Nate was a spectacular player when we were young.” said Trinity senior defensive end Mattehw Andrachik, who was a CYO teammate of Oliver’s at St. Thomas Moore. "He`s always been a phenomenal player, but he's actually an even better friend. He`s an awesome friend and an all-around good person."​
"It`s just the little things that make Nate a special guy," Ed`s defensive coordinator Marty Loncar added. "When we do drills, he takes some younger guys aside, and he coaches those guys. Not everyone at his level would do that, but Nate`s a modest guy. I think he obviously knows he`s a great talent. But he`ll never let you know, and he`ll never say it, and he`ll work as hard as he can and does whatever you ask of him." ​
Oliver’s values have been molded by a supportive family and a collection of caring football coaches who all saw something special in him during his stays at St. Thomas Moore and St. Edward. They recognized Oliver’s greatness on the football field and implored him to “pay forward” because they knew that impressionable eyes would be watching.

Those “pay-it-forward” lessons are the reason why Oliver learned all of the names of the 24 youngsters in his group during St. Edward’s Youth Football Camp this past summer. He learned the names so he could personalize his encouragement during the camp. Oliver was recently approached at Brooklyn’s Home Days by a mother of one of 12-year-old campers. She informed Oliver how much he had inspired her son.
“My dad and grandparents and coaches always asked me, ‘Do you want to be remembered as a great player or a great person?’ ” Oliver said. “They told me to be nice to people, nice to kids and to help someone if they need help. I think it’s far more important to be a better person than football player.


“People ask me, ‘Why do you bother talking to a freshman or little kids? I love talking to younger players because I might inspire them to be better than me one day.”
Nate Oliver 411​
Name: Nate Oliver
School: St. Edward
Class: Sr.
Position(s): SS/FB/KR
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 205 pounds
Max bench press: He doesn’t max bench press, but he can bench press 185 lbs. 22 times
40-yard dash: 4.6 seconds
2005 stats: 94 tackles, one caused fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception and rushed for 397 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Also was a special teams specialist on coverage and return teams.
College interested: Oliver committed to The Ohio State University on National Signing Day, the first day a junior can commit. He also had offers from Michigan, Akron, Illinois and Pittsburgh.
Miscellaneous: “I'm not going to lie, Michigan did tempt me during the recruitment process when they said I would be an instant starter,” Oliver said. “But my father put that into perspective by telling me. ‘Michigan is going to have 23 instant starters in that class. They’re probably telling everybody they’re going to be an instant starter.’ Ohio State’s coaches told me that I would have to work hard to earn playing time.” ...Oliver’s jersey is No. 13. Some might think that it’s an unlucky number, but Oliver disagrees. “Former (St. Ed safety) Haruki Nakamura gave me his No. 13 jersey when he graduated,” Oliver said. “He told me that everyone thinks the number 13 is unlucky, but the only people that it’s going to be unlucky for are the receivers crossing the middle against me.”

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“I'm not going to lie, Michigan did tempt me during the recruitment process when they said I would be an instant starter,” Oliver said. “But my father put that into perspective by telling me. ‘Michigan is going to have 23 instant starters in that class. They’re probably telling everybody they’re going to be an instant starter.’ Ohio State’s coaches told me that I would have to work hard to earn playing time.”
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Definitely one of the best quotes of the recruiting year. Another time where Tressel's true character is revealed and another team's sleazy recruiting tactics come forth.

Good thing Oliver and his dad have their heads on straight.
 
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I watched maybe an hour or the St. Eds vs. St. X game and Nate was very impressive.

Hes not only a great player, but a great leader as well. One play sticks out in my mind, when a St. Eds linebacker had a late push against a St. X player, Nate got in his face and you could see him talking to him.

He had good speed, hes not a 4.4 or 4.45 guy, but he is faster than most give him credit for, and hes a great tackler...
 
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