Player Bio: R.J. Oliver

ASU: The longest-tenured Sun Devil and one of the top cornerbacks in the Pac-10...was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing all the 2004 season with a foot injury...started 32 of 40 career games....one of the fastest players on the squad...collected 146 career tackles (97 solo), nine interceptions and 31 pass break-ups...had his finest year as a sophomore in 2002, earning honorable-mention All-Pac-10 honors after leading the conference with 22 passes defended...was recognized as a Hard Hat Player for his work in the team's winter strength and conditioning program three times in his career.

2005: Played in eight games, starting two after being granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing the entire 2004 season due to injury...had 21 tackles (15 solo)...saw his first action since November, 2003 against Northwestern on Sept. 18...had four tackles (two solo) and a crucial interception in the end zone late in the first half at Washington State on Nov. 5...tied his season-high of four tackles in two other games, against top-ranked USC on Oct. 1, and against Washington on Oct. 29...earned preseason third-team All-Pac-10 honors by Athlon Sports...was one of seven Sun Devils on the roster to have already earned his undergraduate degree.

2004: Missed all of the season after tearing ligaments in his foot in the preseason.

2003: Played in nine games with seven starts... recorded 27 tackles (19 solo)...had two interceptions on the season... also had four pass breakups and a forced fumble... tied the school record with a 100-yard interception return Sept. 6 vs. Northern Arizona...matched the school-record set by Emmanuel Franklin in 2001...tweaked his hamstring in that return, an injury which plagued him the rest of the season...recorded four tackles (three unassisted) Oct. 18 at North Carolina,...also forced a fumble vs. the Tar Heels...had four tackles and two pass breakups Nov. 8 at Stanford...collected six tackles Nov. 28 against Arizona, including 5 unassisted, and intercepted a pass...was on the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is annually presented to the top defensive back in the nation...was recognized as a Hard Hat Player for his work in ASU's winter strength and conditioning program for the third time in his career.

2002: Had an excellent sophomore season saw him lead the Pac-10 in passes defended with 22 (18 pass breakups and four interceptions)...earned honorable-mention All-Pac-10 recognition...started all 14 games...recorded 48 tackles, 34 were solo...had 51 total return yards on his four interceptions...had a 41-yard interception return against Oregon State...at San Diego State, recorded seven tackles, one interception and two pass breakups...honored by the team as the Gail Scott Most Improved Defensive Player.

2001: Was named to the Freshman All-Pac-10 Team by The Sporting News...started and played in nine games...fifth on the team in tackles with 50, 29 of those were solo efforts...two interceptions for 12 yards, including one against Arizona...seven pass deflections...three pass deflections and 10 tackles vs. Washington...recovered a fumble against Oregon State...forced a fumble against USC.

2000: Redshirted...showed big-play making ability as a member of the scout team.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2000 graduate of Escondido (Calif.) High School...listed as the No. 39 player in the Farwest by SuperPrep Magazine...played most of his senior season with an injured hip...still caught 11 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns...had 70 carries for 636 yards and nine touchdowns...on defense, had 80 tackles and a 99-yard kickoff return.

PERSONAL: Has already earned his bachelor's degree in recreation management...father is Roye Oliver, an All-America and conference champion wrestler at ASU, and a member of the Sun Devil Hall of Fame...mother, Toni Griffin, is a former ASU track and field star (sprinter and jumper) on the same team as ASU great Herman Frazier in the 1970s...has a younger sister, Sha, who plays softball at Fresno State...born May 16, 1982.

CAREER HIGHS: Unassisted Tackles: 6, at San Diego State (9/14/02). Assisted Tackles: 7, vs. Washington (10/27/01). Total Tackles: 10, vs. Washington (10/27/01). Interceptions: 1, nine times, last at Washington State (11/05/05).

Oliver's Career Statistics

R.J. Oliver Class: Graduate Student Hometown: Escondido, Calif. High School: Escondido Height / Weight: 5-9 / 178 Position: Cornerback Experience: 3V

Oliver's Game-by-Game Statistics