Louis Oliver facts for kids

Louis Oliver, III (born March 9, 1966) is a former American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. This was during the 1980s and 1990s. Oliver played college football for the Florida Gators. He was recognized as an All-American twice. He was chosen early in the 1989 NFL draft. Oliver played professionally for the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Early Life and High School Football

Louis Oliver was born in Belle Glade, Florida in 1966. He went to Glades Central High School in Belle Glade. He was a very good football player for the Glades Central Raiders. One memorable moment was when Oliver blocked two punts in the same game. This happened when he was a junior.

College Football Career

After high school, Oliver went to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He started as a walk-on player for the Florida Gators football team in 1985. This means he joined the team without a scholarship at first.

Oliver worked hard and earned an athletic scholarship. He became a starting free safety and a team captain. During his college career, he made 11 interceptions. He was chosen for the first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1987 and 1988. He was also a first-team All-American in 1987 and a consensus first-team All-American in 1988. Oliver was also honored twice for his academic achievements in the SEC.

He received the Gators' Fergie Ferguson Award. This award goes to a senior football player who shows great leadership, character, and courage. Oliver earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1989. In 2000, he was added to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. He was recognized as a "Gator Great." In 2006, The Gainesville Sun newspaper ranked him as No. 24 among the top 100 Gators from the first century of Florida football.

Professional Football Career

The Miami Dolphins picked Louis Oliver in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He was the 25th player chosen overall. He played seven seasons for the Dolphins (1989–1993, 1995–1996). He also played one season for the Cincinnati Bengals (1994).

Oliver played alongside his former Gators teammate Jarvis Williams on the Dolphins' defense. They were the starting safeties for five seasons. One of Oliver's most famous plays was on October 4, 1992. He intercepted a pass from Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly. He ran it back 103 yards for a touchdown. This is still the longest interception return in Dolphins history.

During his eight years in the NFL, Oliver played in 117 regular season games. He started 101 of those games. He made 544 tackles and 27 interceptions. He returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns.

Life After the NFL

After his football career, Louis Oliver used his connections in sports. He started a business helping sports stars and celebrities plan parties in South Florida. Later, Louis focused on other business ideas. He became a specialist in high-end real estate for celebrities. He is now a partner in a real estate company in Miami. Louis also started a company called Highlightz, which created a special smoking illuminating tip.

See also

• 1987 College Football All-America Team
• 1988 College Football All-America Team
• Florida Gators football, 1980–89
• List of Florida Gators football All-Americans
• List of Florida Gators in the NFL draft
• List of Miami Dolphins first-round draft picks
• List of Miami Dolphins players
• List of University of Florida alumni
• List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members