Dave Campbell’s Texas Football is counting down the 50 most important players in the state of Texas, and we've reached the mountaintop. 

Most important doesn’t always mean the most talented. Talent is a factor, but we’re weighing it against depth at the position, production and how much losing this player would impact a team’s trajectory.

No. 1 should come as no surprise. Ed Oliver is the best player in Texas. He might be the best player in America. Houston has exactly one season left to take advantage of his astonishing skill set before he eventually plays on Sundays.

Previous: Nos. 50-11 | No. 10 SMU WR James Proche | No. 9 Texas OT Calvin Anderson | No. 8 TCU QB Shawn Robinson | No. 7 Sam Houston State WR Nathan Stewart | No. 6 Baylor QB Charlie Brewer | No. 5 TCU DE Ben Banogu | No. 4 Texas A&M OL Erik McCoy | No. 3 Texas Tech LB Dakota Allen | No. 2 UNT QB Mason Fine

The History

It took one game for Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver to announce his arrival to college football. In his first game, against future Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and No. 3 Oklahoma no less, Oliver exploded for seven tackles and two sacks in a shocking upset win.

The production never stopped. Oliver posted 66 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 9 pass deflections in a phenomenal freshman campaign, and earned All-America status. A year later, he added 73 tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss en route to becoming the first underclassman to ever win the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s best interior lineman.

Expectations are sky high for Oliver’s true junior season, which he already confirmed will be his last at Houston. Several outlets have named Oliver the best player in college football, and Mel Kiper has him No. 1 on his NFL Draft Big Board. Oliver’s career is just getting started.

The Skillset

There aren’t enough words on the internet to write about everything that Ed Oliver can do at an elite level. Despite a 6-foot-3, 292-pound frame, Oliver moves with absolute ease. His frame is quick enough to weave through blockers, but powerful enough to toss them aside like rag dolls.

His first step is a thing of beauty. Against spread offenses, Oliver sometimes bursts through the interior of the offensive line like he’s rushing off the edge; offensive linemen simply can’t keep up. And when he breaks through, it doesn’t matter the type of play, Oliver can break it up.

But what really sets Oliver apart is his motor. It’s not unusual to see Oliver double- or triple-teamed. However, he keeps his lower body moving and is adept at getting back on his feet after knockdowns and recovering. A large percentage of his tackles for loss are on second efforts. Those are the kind of players offensive linemen have nightmares about going against.

Expert insight

“The last defensive lineman to finish in the top five of the Heisman voting was Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh in 2009. The unblockable Oliver could replicate Suh's feat on the way to potentially becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.” –ESPN

“After two years of watching the 6'3", 290-pound former five-star recruit slice through offensive lines that spent all week worrying about containing him, swim through the backfield with the agility of a cornerback and rip down ballcarriers with one hand, it’s clear now that there’s no one else like Oliver in the country.” –Sports Illustrated

“Large adult son dominance. That's about the only way to describe Oliver as he enters his third, and likely final, year of college...The Outland Trophy winner is such a mismatch that he demands constant attention and double teams -- and oftentimes that's still a fruitless effort.” –CBS Sports

The Impact

Oliver is the most important player in the state, and it’s not that close. Houston’s entire defense is built around his production.

Even though he’s a defensive tackle, Oliver ranked No. 3 on the team in total tackles. His 5.5 sacks also led the team, and his 16.5 tackles for loss was double all but one player on the roster. Houston allowed just 3.8 yards per carry last season, and Oliver really does deserve the lion’s share of the credit.

However, the Cougars lost four of their six leading tacklers from a season ago. Oliver is the leading tackler on the roster. There is some talent waiting in the wings. Ole Miss safety transfer Deontay Anderson was an All-SEC Freshman Team pick in 2016. TCU defensive line transfer Isaiah Chamber is eligible.

But ultimately, Houston’s trajectory falls on Oliver’s massive and capable shoulders. That makes him the No. 1 most important player in Texas college football.