Former Kentucky defensive tackle Octavious Oxendine is taking his talents north of the border, signing with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team announced last week. The Radcliff, Ky., native joins ex-Wildcat Micah Johnson (2006-09) on the Roughriders’ roster, with fellow UK alums Josh Ali (Calgary Stampeders), Lynn Bowden (BC Lions), and Quandre Mosely (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) also set to suit up when CFL preseason action kicks off Monday, May 19, per a release from the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Oxendine, a 6-foot-1, 318-pound force, was a four-year letter winner at Kentucky, appearing in 47 games with 19 starts from 2020-24. His career stat line reads 78 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, and a blocked kick. In his senior season of 2024, Oxendine played all 12 games, starting once against Murray State, and racked up 20 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks (second on the team), three quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble.
His standout moment came in Kentucky’s stunning upset of No. 6/5 Ole Miss. Oxendine delivered three tackles, including a career-high two sacks for -10 yards, and a quarterback hurry. His third-down sack in the first quarter forced a punt, and a late second-quarter sack stalled the Rebels, letting the half expire. The performance earned him SEC Defensive Line Player of the Week honors, a fitting highlight for his final collegiate campaign.
Off the field, Oxendine graduated in December 2024 with a degree in social work, showcasing the same dedication that made him a disruptive presence on it. Now, as he embarks on his professional journey with the Roughriders, Oxendine brings the same tenacity that defined his time in Lexington to the CFL stage.
