Texas Football: WR Jake Oliver Abruptly Ends Texas Career

Texas Longhorns WR Jake Oliver has decided to leave Texas Football before the start of his senior season.

Jake Oliver is foregoing his senior season at Texas, ESPN and 247Sports reported Monday. But, the 6’3″ WR is not declaring for the NFL Draft. Rather, he is “focusing on his future,” likely away from the game of football.

Details are vague on what Oliver’s future is, but he released a statement to ESPN. “I enjoyed every second of being on this team and I will always be a Longhorn for life,” Oliver said.

Jake Oliver Would Have Faced Tough WR Competition

Jake Oliver is the first player to leave the Texas Football program since Tom Herman took over as head coach. That is, other than D’Onta Foreman, who declared early for the NFL Draft.

Oliver had a breakthrough junior season. But, there was no guarantee of playing time in 2017, especially with another new offensive coordinator, Tim Beck.

Oliver was facing tough competition from other WRs Armanti Foreman, Devin Duvernay, Dorian Leonard, Collin Johnson, Jerrod Heard, and John Burt, who quit track in order to focus on football. Plus, incoming freshmen recruits Damion Miller and Jordan Pouncey.

Last year, Texas fans were waiting for Jake Oliver to emerge in the Longhorns offense after he set high school records in the Dallas area.

The breakthrough came under new offensive coordinator Sterling Gilbert. Oliver had three big catches in the opener against Notre Dame, then recorded at least one catch in every game of the 2016 season.

Included was a season-high 76 yards in a win against Texas Tech. During that game, Oliver notched a career-high 52-yard catch and run.

Oliver finished his Texas career with 33 catches for 358 yards, but no touchdowns.