Georgia Tech cornerback Tobias Oliver played minimally in the season opener Sept. 4, but has since seen his role increase dramatically since his strong play the following Saturday against Kennesaw State.
“He really got going in Kennesaw State because he’s a physical tackler, a smart, reliable dude, and now he’s out there playing against elite wide receivers and explosive teams and holding up in a big way,” defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker said. “So, really proud of him, and he’ll continue to get a lot of reps because he’s definitely earned everything he’s gotten.”
Oliver played 10 defensive snaps in the opener against Northern Illinois, but then jumped to 55 against Kennesaw State, according to snap totals tracked by Pro Football Focus. For that game, starting cornerback Zamari Walton was out, and Thacker wanted to have his most dependable players on the field to defend against Kennesaw State’s option offense. Oliver started that game – his first start at cornerback since moving to that position in the spring of 2020 – and then again against Clemson and North Carolina.
Oliver made one of the plays of the game in the Jackets’ upset of the Tar Heels, stopping UNC quarterback Sam Howell on a fourth-and-1 run on the Tar Heels’ opening drive of the second half, a game-turning moment. The next challenge for Tech and Oliver is Pittsburgh, quarterbacked by draft prospect Kenny Pickett.
“All the clichés that you think you hear – the non-entitlement and you earn everything you get – man, they hold true for that young man,” Thacker said of Oliver.
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