Once Teammates, Old Friends Face Off on Sunday
10/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY - Their paths to Buffalo were similar. Their paths to the NFL were not. On Sunday afternoon former UB greats Khalil Mack and Branden Oliver, the best of friends off the field, will meet up against each other for the first time when the Oakland Raiders host the San Diego Chargers.
In 2008, both Mack and Oliver were high school standouts from the state of Florida, but garnered little interest from Division I football coaches. The two came on the same visit to Buffalo, accepted their only Division I offer, and the rest is history. Mack went on to become an All-American linebacker and Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Oliver became the school's all-time leading rusher.
Along the way, the two formed an unbreakable bond. They were best friends and roommates, rarely seen apart.
"It's great to get to play against my brother," Oliver said.
When asked if he thinks Mack will tackle him, Oliver jokingly said, "I don't like to think that anyone will tackle me."
Head coach Jeff Quinn calls Oliver the hardest working player he has ever coached. In the offseason, Oliver would run up a hill on campus wearing a 30 lb. weight vest, over and over. Mack admired Oliver's unique training regimen and soon grabbed a weight vest and joined him.
"This is a perfect example of iron sharpens iron," Quinn said. "The two of them worked so hard, side-by-side that it doesn't surprise me that they are where they are today."
Mack was the fifth overall selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 2014 NFL Draft. He has not disappointed, as some websites have ranked him as the best defensive rookie in the league. He has 24 tackles through four games this season.
Oliver's path to the NFL was much different. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts, but was cut days later. But indicative of his legendary work ethic, Oliver never gave up and was signed by the San Diego Chargers.
After opening eyes in the preseason, Oliver made the Chargers' 53-man roster. With injuries to other running backs, Oliver ascending the depth chart. He had his coming out party against the New York Jets last week by piling up 182 total yards and scoring two touchdowns.
This week Oliver and Mack will face off head-to-head. Something they haven't done since their days on the practice field at UB Stadium.
The pair joins four other former UB players currently in the NFL. James Starks is a running back in Green Bay, Trevor Scott is a linebacker in Chicago and Josh Thomas is a defensive back for the Seahawks. Wide Receiver Naaman Roosevelt is a member of the Buffalo Bills practice squad.
San Diego and Oakland kick off at 4:05 pm (EST) on Sunday afternoon. It's safe to say there will be a lot of fans in Buffalo watching.
