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Octavious Oxendine Says It’s a “Blessing” to Play for Mark Stoops and Kentucky Football

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2 years ago

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Kentucky Football defensive lineman Octavious Oxendine celebrating
© Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kentucky football defensive lineman Octavious Oxendine was recruited out of North Hardin High School by Coach Mark Stoops, and he is forever thankful for that.

Kentucky Uses a “Player-Led” System

In an article by Larry Vaught in the Marshall County Daily, Oxendine was quoted saying, “I feel like it’s a blessing [to play for Mark Stoops] just cause you don’t get that many coaches that’s actually player-led like he says he is.”

Oxendine added, “In and out of everything we do is definitely player-led from the workouts to the play calling to what we just feel comfortable in what we want to do.”

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Evidently, Coach Stoops gives a lot of creative freedom to his players and his position coaches as well.

“He just lets it come down to us. It trickles right down the tree. Goes to our position coaches to the DCs, OCs, then honestly just us. Whatever we want to do is definitely a lot player-led.”

Consistency is Key

During his time at SEC Media Days, Oxendine said that Kentucky’s defense needs to be more consistent in order to be successful in 2023.

“In past years, our pass rush was definitely consistent. We had good guys like Josh Allen, Boogie Watson. J.J. Weaver came back for another year. We’ve always been good at pass rushing and we need to get back to that. I feel one thing we’ve been focused on is our pass rush.”

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Last season, Kentucky only recorded 20 sacks, with LB J.J.Weaver leading the team with 3 total. Oxendine himself had none. In 2021, UK had 29 total sacks, and Oxendine tallied 2 total sacks.

UK’s ability to cause mayhem up front was lost last season, and they need to find it again if they want to be able to compete with the SEC’s top teams.

Oxendine has acknowledged this as well, saying, “You’re going to play the best all the time, so you might as well just set up a schedule like that just to get your feet wet and see what the road is going to feel like, to see what the path is going to feel like.”

He added, “We’ll have a couple good games before we head into SEC play, so we’ll definitely see how we’re going to play during the SEC-type games.”

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Oxendine Once Chose Big Rival Over Kentucky

Octavious Oxendine also took the time to give his take on the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry, saying, “I definitely say it’s one of the best rivalries in college football just because red, blue, right down the street from each other. No NFL team.”

He also talked about how when his family moved to Kentucky from Louisiana, he had to decide if he was going to be a Kentucky or Louisville fan. Unfortunately, Oxendine chose the Cards.

“When we first moved, it was a big thing for us to pick Louisville or Kentucky. We actually picked Louisville, which is crazy I’m at Kentucky. It’s just a big rivalry. I feel like everybody in the States knows about it. It’s a game everybody always wants to be at, and there’s a lot of energy behind it.“

In the end, Octavious Oxendine is “blessed” to be a Kentucky Wildcat under Mark Stoops’ regime, and you can expect him to wreck havoc on the gridiron this fall.

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Two More Wildcats Eye NFL Futures

Two more Wildcats are receiving opportunities to accomplish their NFL dreams.

Published

1 week ago

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May 10, 2025

By

UK Athletics

Linebacker D’Eryk Jackson and kicker Alex Raynor are the latest Kentucky Wildcats aiming to make their mark in the NFL.

Jackson, a 6-foot-1, 244-pound linebacker, signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks after impressing during the team’s rookie minicamp.

In his five seasons playing college football, Jackson amassed 216 total tackles including 17 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and five interceptions.

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The former Kentucky standout and the teams leading tackler from 2022 and 2023 will now compete for a spot on the Seahawks final 53-man roster.

Raynor, meanwhile, received an invitation to attend the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookie camp, which runs May 9–11.

The Kennesaw, Georgia, native made 25 of 27 field-goal attempts in two seasons with Kentucky, including a school-record 55-yarder.

His performance earned him SEC Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 2024 and a shot to prove himself at the next level.

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With the addition of Jackson and Raynor to NFL rosters, the total number of Kentucky Wildcats now vying for a spot in the league has reached 10.

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Saskatchewan Roughriders Sign Octavious Oxendine to CFL Deal

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1 week ago

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May 8, 2025

By

UK Athletics

On Wednesday, it was officially announced that former Wildcats defensive lineman Octavious Oxendine agreed to play with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

Oxendine becomes only the fifth player from Kentucky to take their talents up north. Those before him included fellow Roughrider Micah Johnson, Josh Ali of the Calgary Stampeders, Lynn Bowden of the BC Lions and Quandre Mosely Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Radcliff, Kentucky, native played five seasons in Lexington. Making 19 starts in 47 games played, Oxendine recorded 78 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

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In 2024, Oxendine appeared in all 12 games for the Wildcats and made one start against Murray State, finishing his final season with a team-second best four sacks.

A key performance by Oxendine helped Kentucky defeat the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, Mississippi, as the defensive lineman recorded three tackles and a career-high two sacks for a combined 10 yards lost. His first sack came on a third down play, forcing the Rebels to punt, and the second led to Ole Miss letting the clock run out to end the first half.

The standout performance led to Oxendine being named SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

In December 2024, Oxendine graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in social work. Additionally, the recent graduate was named the 2025 CATSPY Male Supporting Role Award.  

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Now in green, Oxendine will take the field with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as they are set to kickoff the preseason on Saturday, May 24, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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Tre’vonn Rybka Signs With Dolphins As Undrafted Free Agent

Published

3 weeks ago

on

April 29, 2025

By

John Clay | UK Athletics

Another Cat is heading to the NFL after defensive lineman Tre’vonn Rybka was signed by the Miami Dolphins in undrafted free agency on April 28, shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Rybka, who appeared in 48 games over five seasons with Kentucky, amassed 95 tackles including 5 sacks. As a senior, he started all 12 games, finishing with 34 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks.

He now joins a Dolphins defense that used their No. 13 pick in this year’s draft on Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, meaning Rybka will have to compete for a roster spot in a deep defensive front rotation.

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Off the field, Rybka, who was adopted by his grandparents as a child due to his mother’s battle with addiction, is an active member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. He was awarded the “Big Ambassador of the Year” award in 2024 for his commitment to mentoring and supporting the youth.

His commitment to give back to the community and its youth reflects dedication to make a positive impact both on and off the football field.

Rybka will report to the Dolphins rookie camp on May 9-12, before he officially fights for a spot on the 53-man roster in June.

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