*Oliver Tolliver declares for the DSFL Draft

[Memento Mori]

Former University of Washington wide receiver Oliver Tolliver will be eligible for the 2055 Developmental Simulation Football League Draft, confirmed today after weeks of speculation. Conflicting reports have been circulating in the last week as to whether Oliver Tolliver has officially declared for the upcoming DSFL draft and today Tolliver’s agent Jorge Mendes Júnior has confirmed that his client has formally declared with the draft presentation just days away. Tolliver had been widely expected to declare for the draft, having played three successful seasons at wide receiver at the University of Washington prior to his participation in the DSFL’s pre-draft waiver program following the conclusion of the 2054 college football regular season. An invitation to the pre-draft waiver process is usually only afforded to the top prospects in each DSFL Draft class and Tolliver spoke of how honoured he felt when interviewed following his DSFL debut last season.

The 21 year old told reporters he was humbled when asked by the league to forgo the College Football Playoffs in favour of playing in the DSFL, and had been eager to test himself against pro cornerbacks. The former Huskies player, who led the Pac-12 in receiving yards last season, was selected by the Portland Pythons as part of the waiver process and so remained close to his home in the North West, allowing family members to travel to Portland’s Week 13 game to watch him play. One would expect this would help ease the transition from the college game to the DSFL, but Tolliver endured a slow start to his time with the Pythons. He made his debut in Portland’s Week 12 loss to the Dallas Birddogs and was only targeted twice in the 31-28 defeat. Tolliver struggled to create separation, and Pythons quarterback Donovan Winters III preferred to target his more experienced pass catchers such as Chicago Butchers send down wideout Plant Based. The ball wasn’t thrown Tolliver’s way until Portland’s final drive, with the team losing by three points in the fourth quarter. On both first and second down Tolliver was able to find space in the Birddogs’ zone defence but dropped the pass from Winters III - and the game ended after a failed attempt to convert on 4th down following this.

The draft prospect was the object of some ire on social media as a result, but when asked about this following Portland’s next game Tolliver seemed unaffected by it. He explained that if he was to become a successful DSFL (and then International Simulation Football League) player he’d have to put up with a lot of criticism from fans of (rival) teams, and that his disappointing debut was just a bump on the road that wouldn’t affect his overall journey. Tolliver also thanked his agent for helping him land the opportunity to play in the first place, and credited his hard work in helping him earn a spot on the Pythons’ roster. Asked about the NCAA’s controversial decision to relax its ban on its athletes having agents, Tolliver was vocal in support of Mendes and stated that his agent had been crucial in his career development and had no regrets about securing the services of one.

Tolliver rebounded somewhat from the initial disappointment around his performance in the DSFL, catching his first pass in the first quarter of Portland’s victory over the London Royals the next week. While “reliable” continued to be a very charitable way to describe his hands, Tolliver contributed in the passing game and succesfully converted a first down in the second half. His final game was a loss in Virginia to the Norfolk SeaWolves which saw the young receiver matched up against cornerback Brooks Piggott, a highly-touted young defensive back who was drafted by the San Jose Sabercats in the previous ISFL Draft. While Piggott successfully broke up two passes aimed at Tolliver, he showed a flash of his future potential in the 4th quarter when he beat the Norfolk corner with a double move and caught a Donovan Winters III pass for a first down.

Portland missed the playoffs and so Tolliver’s time with the Pythons ended following Week 14, but  Mendes Júnior was convinced that this experience had made Tolliver a much better player and had improved his draft stock ahead of the upcoming DSFL presentation. He pointed out that while most prospects will be stepping onto the field for the first time come Week 1 of 2055, his client will have experienced the initial shock and nerves about doing so many months prior. Watchers of the ISFL’s less popular competitor, the once-beloved National Football League, will be familiar with the stereotype of rookie wide receivers struggling to learn the playbook and to get on the same wavelength as a pro quarterback, but Tolliver has had valuable reps in practice with and against pro players that will help him adjust in his true rookie year next season. Mendes was also asked about where he expected his client to be drafted, but his response gave nothing away when he was asked about the possibility of Tolliver returning to Portland or heading elsewhere in the DSFL. The DSFL is expecting its biggest draft class in some time, and scouts have anything from a first to a third round grade on Oliver Tolliver depending on who you ask and what day of the week it is.

Tolliver himself was asked the question by another publication earlier this week, but the young receiver told reporters that he would be thrilled to be drafted by any of the DSFL’s eight teams and would give 110% to whoever selected him. Scouts have noted Tolliver’s elite speed when watching his college tape, and while there are questions over whether it will translate to the professional level Tolliver previously set an unofficial 4.29 forty yard dash time at the University of Washington. His catch rate is below that of some other receivers in this DSFL draft class, but he performed strongly in yards per route run and other advanced metrics throughout his college career. The 21 year old is adept at creating yards after the catch, with his agility and elusiveness on show when he returned two punts for touchdowns during his junior college season. The DSFL team that drafts Tolliver will get a big play threat who will complement a more experienced WR1 by demanding the attention of both the corner and the safety whenever he’s sent deep on a route. If the former Husky can eliminate drops from his game he has the potential to be one of the most threatening receivers in the DSFL and help make a good offence an elite one.

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1108 words (and double draft media please)