Ed Oliver Is College Football's Ultimate Boss

On the field, no offensive lineman can stop Ed Oliver from imposing his will. Off the field, the Houston star doesn't let any conventional wisdom keep him from going his own way.

This story appears in the Aug. 13, 2018, issue of Sports Illustrated. For more great storytelling and in-depth analysis, subscribe to the magazine—and get up to 94% off the cover price. Click here for more.

College football’s best player stops talking when he hears them coming. He sets down a forkful of brisket and nods toward a group of teenagers on four-wheelers roaring down the street next to Burns Original BBQ. They’re tearing through Houston’s Acres Homes neighborhood, just like Ed Oliver used to when he was…