The 2025 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Oklahoma State EDGE Collin Oliver plans on taking full advantage. Oliver recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Oliver also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, overcoming an injury, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Oliver better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Collin Oliver: I was in my room and I got a text from coach Rod Johnson, our assistant director of operations. They told me a package from the Senior Bowl just arrived. I reacted very positively. It was super cool.
JM: What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Collin Oliver: I didn’t get to play a complete season at Oklahoma State this year. I wanted to take advantage of another opportunity to display my skill set. I didn’t get that full chance this year. I want to show everyone that I’m one of the top edge rushers in the country.
JM: More specifically, what are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Collin Oliver: That I can do everything a great edge rusher can do at the next level. I’m among the top pass rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft. I believe that. I should be a candidate to be considered among the top prospects in this draft. That’s what I want to prove.
JM: The 2023 season was great for you. You had a bunch of tackles for loss [15.5] and sack [six] production. You had the injury in 2024, like you mentioned. That must have been difficult. I imagine you had designs on following up 2023 more appropriately.
Collin Oliver: It was definitely difficult. I had to power through. We didn’t have the best season at Oklahoma State. Going through the injury, going through the season we had, it definitely made me not want to go through something like that again.
You live and you learn. I definitely learned a lesson. When times get hard like they did this past season, you just have to push through while finding a way to win games. That obviously didn't happen for us this year, but that’s what I learned this season.
JM: You’re back healthy and ready to compete in Mobile now at the Senior Bowl.
Collin Oliver: I’m 100% healthy and ready. That’s the name of the game. I’m ready to get after it. I can’t wait to put the pads back on. I’m getting ready to hit people again (laughs). I’m ready to prove myself.
JM: We love that. I want to talk about your pass-rush arsenal now that you’re full-go again. What does that look like, go-to moves, counters, things of that nature? Self-scout yourself for us.
Collin Oliver: Obviously the name of my game is speed rushing. I’m a speed rusher, that’s what I’m best at. I love to counter rush with strength and power. I’ll go with a long arm and the occasional inside move when it’s reasonable. There’s a lot of speed and power in my arsenal. I have go-tos and counter moves.
I have room to expand as well. That will come with me. I feel like I’m a great natural pass rusher.
JM: Would you compare yourself to any pass rushers in the league right now?
Collin Oliver: I wouldn’t compare myself to anyone, but I’d love to model my game after a couple of guys like Von Miller and Khalil Mack. I’m good at doing some of the same things they’re good at. I like to watch the tape and take little bits and pieces from what they do. I try to apply those lessons to my game as well.
JM: Those are great pass rushers to watch and learn from. Fun question before we let you go. What’s on Collin Oliver’s pre-game playlist?
Collin Oliver: Anything I’m feeling at the time, man. There’s some R&B, rock and roll, hip-hop, old-school rap, new-age rap.
JM: What’s some of the old-school stuff on there?
Collin Oliver: Wu-Tang Clan. A Tribe Called Quest is my favorite act of all time. I have some Redman on there, a couple of Busta Rhymes songs.
JM: You know a little something (laughs).
Collin Oliver: I got put on old-school rap by a lot of people (laughs). I took that knowledge and ran with it.
JM: This has been a lot of fun (laughs). At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Collin Oliver?
Collin Oliver: It means I showed up in practice and proved myself at that level. I’m going to put my best foot forward. That’s really what it looks like, me being at the best of my ability. I’m excited to showcase my abilities.
