Octavious Oxendine had two sacks against LSU but is now out for the season with a leg injury. (UK Athletics Photo)
Octavi0us Oxendine was someone expected Kentucky coaches thought could be a special player when they won the recruiting battle with Tennessee for the North Hardin defensive lineman. He was becoming a rising star as a sophomore. He moved into a starting role and had the first two quarterback sacks of his career in Saturday’s win over LSU along with one other tackle to earn SEC defensive lineman of the week honors.
However, it was a costly game because late he was hurt, left the field on crutches and UK coach Mark Stoops confirmed Monday he was out for the season. That means UK will be without him at Georgia — and senior nose guard Marquan McCall is also expected to miss his third straight game because of an injury.
“That’s a big loss for us considering Marquan is already down and Octavious was playing (well). He played his best game (against LSU). This past week, he played his best game. It’s unfortunate, he got hurt late in the game,” Stoops said.
The UK coach would not reveal the exact nature of the injury other than saying it was in his lower leg.
Oxendine’s high school coach, Brent Thompson, said Monday it was not a career-ending injury.
“He will be back for sure (in 2022),” Thompson said. “Have no doubts on that. This young man will be back better than ever next season.”
Thompson told me several years ago that Oxendine was one of the hardest workers he’s ever coached — something UK defensive line coach Anwar Stewart has also confirmed. That’s why it was no surprise when Stewart said before the season that Oxendine was shadowing Josh Paschal and doing everything he does to improve his game.
That’s why Thompson says not to doubt Oxendine’s future or that he will come back better than ever.
“I’ll place that bet with anybody. My guy Octavius Oxendine will be back better than ever,” Thompson said.
However, Stoops along with defensive coordinator Brad White and Stewart have to make adjustments before playing at No. 1 Georgia on Saturday afternoon with first place in the SEC East at stake.
“We have to move some guys around. We have to get better, some of the guys that are going to be forced into playing time,” Stoops said Monday. “We have to look at all aspects of what we’re doing and what they do best and try to have it by committee and moving guys around and look at different ways on third down.
“The thing about Georgia is … what’s difficult is there’s no masking things. They’re very well-coached and very physical and you have to play them. Of course, there are game plans and change-ups and things but you have to just match up and that’s difficult to do, but we have to get better, we have to find ways to protect certain guys but with them, you just have to man up and play.”
Senior Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald was the starter at tackle when the season opened and has experience. True freshman Kahlil Saunders is back off suspension and should get more chances now. Same for sophomore Isaiah Gibson.
Redshirt freshman Tre’Vonn Rybka has backed up Paschal at the other defensive tackle and has more overall snaps than any backup defensive lineman.
Stoops is 0-8 against Georgia and UK has lost its last 11 games against the Bulldogs since quarterback Morgan Newton led the Cats to a win at Sanford Stadium in 2009 when he threw for three touchdowns. Randall Cobb ran for two scores in that game. Kentucky had 260 yards and gave up 487 but won because it won the turnover battle 4-0, something the Cats need to do again this season.
