#90 Melvin Oliver Season 2001
Updated 4/19/06
2005 Defensive MVP vs. Miami (Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl)
SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Arkansas, 2005)
2005 LSU Defensive MVP vs. Iowa (Capital One Bowl)
2002 Second-Team Freshman All-America (Sporting News)
2002 Freshman All-SEC (The Sporting News)
CAREER
Played in 52 games for the Tigers, starting 24 times, including all 13 games as a senior and 10 times as a junior … Finished career with 20 sacks, which ties as the fourth-highest total in school history … Had a total of 26.5 tackles for losses during his career.
SENIOR SEASON (2005)
Solid defensive end who, along with Kyle Williams, Claude Wroten and Chase Pittman, gave the Tigers one of the most dominant defensive fronts around … Played and started in all 13 games for the Tigers in 2005 … Capped career with Tigers by being named Defensive MVP of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl after recording 5 tackles, including 2 tackles for losses and a sack in the 40-3 LSU win … Led all Tiger defensive linemen with 67 tackles … Also tops on the squad with 9 sacks and 11 tackles for losses … Had 3 sacks and 9 tackles in win over Arkansas … Named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against the Razorbacks … Had 2 sacks in win over Mississippi State and 1 each in wins over Vanderbilt, Florida, and Appalachian State … The 9 sacks ties for the seventh-highest single-season total in school history
JUNIOR SEASON (2004)
Played in all 12 games in 2004 with 10 starts … As a junior in 2004, recorded 36 tackles, 5 tackles for losses and 1 sack … Named LSU’s Defensive MVP by the media at the Capital One Bowl after intercepting a pass and returning it 27 yards in the first quarter … Had best game of season against Ole Miss with 7 tackles and a sack for an 8-yard loss … Added 2 quarterback hurries against the Rebels … Other big games in 2004 included 5 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss against both Georgia and Alabama.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2003)
Played in all 14 games with one start … Part of the rotation among defensive linemen for the Tigers … Started against Mississippi State in place of an injured Marquise Hill … Registered 31 tackles and 4 sacks … Had outstanding game in Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma, finishing with 4 four tackles, a sack for a 9-yard loss and another tackle behind the line of scrimmage … Also broke up a pass in the 21-14 win over the Sooners … Had season-high 6 tackles in win over Arkansas … Had two 2 and 1 sack in start vs. Mississippi State … Added a sack for a 9-yard loss vs. Alabama and followed that with 2 tackles and a sack of Eli Manning for a 4-yard loss in win over Ole Miss … For the year, had 7 quarterback hurries and broke up 3 passes.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON (2002)
Impressive redshirt freshman who earned Second Team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News … Also named to The Sporting News’ Freshman All-SEC team … Led LSU and ranked among the SEC leaders with 6 sacks … The 6 sacks ranked second in LSU history among freshman for single-season sacks … Jarvis Green, now with the New England Patriots in the NFL, holds the LSU freshman mark with eight in 1998 … Played in all 13 games with no starts … Had 29 tackles and 6 for losses, all of which were sacks … Added 3 quarterback hurries and 1 pass breakup … Had 2.5 sacks in win over South Carolina and added 1.5 sacks against Louisiana-Lafayette … Capped rookie season with two tackles and a sack for a 9-yard loss against Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
HIGH SCHOOL
Outstanding pass rusher that helped Opelika High School to an 11-2 overall mark … Opelika High was the No. 1 rated defense in Alabama and they ranked first in the state in points allowed per game … Registered 80 tackles, including 16 for losses … Had 14 sacks and recovered one fumble … First-Team 6A All-State and All-District … Coached by Spence McCracken.
PERSONAL
Full name is Melvin Deontae Oliver … Born July 25, 1983 in Opelika, Ala. … Parents are Melvin Watson and Belinda Martin … Has one brother, Carleton … Majoring in general studies.
Oliver’s Career Defensive Totals
Year
G-GS
UT
AT
TT
TFL
Sacks
Int
2002 Fr.-RS
13-0
12
17
29
6.5-26
6-25
0
2003 So.
14-1
17
14
31
4-22
4-26
0
2004 Jr.
12-10
18
18
36
5-16
1-8
1-27
2005 Sr.
13-13
38
31
69
11-57
9-53
0
TOTALS
52-24
85
80
169
26.5-121
20-112
1-27