By Staff
Special to The Star
April 25, 2001
LIVINGSTON, Ala. For the first time since 1989, a University of West Alabama football player has been signed to an NFL contract. Butler native Kendrick Office was a mainstay on the defensive line at West Alabama and earlier this week signed an undisclosed contract with the AFC's Buffalo Bills.
Office came to UWA from Choctaw County High School, where he was voted team MVP in both football and basketball. In his senior campaign on the gridiron, Office posted lofty numbers, including 80 tackles, 20 sacks and three fumble recoveries.
It did not take Office long to make an impression on his UWA coaches, as he started all 10 games as a true freshman, recording 36 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
The 6-foot-5, 252-pound defensive end only got better as he anchored a defensive front at UWA that ranked among the top in the Gulf South Conference.
Office started 39 of 41 games at UWA. Over an impressive career, he totaled 166 tackles including 72 unassisted, 23 for a loss (-131 yards) and 14.5 sacks (-126 yards).
His senior accolades include being the first person in West Alabama history invited to play in the Kelly Tires Blue-Gray All-Star Classic.
In the nationally televised game from Montgomery, Ala., Office totaled three tackles, including a sack. From there, Office went to Kingsville, Tex., to compete in the Whataburger Cactus Bowl (Division II All-Star Game), where he totaled three tackles, including one unassisted.
As for the move to Buffalo, Office is looking forward to the change in climate and his first opportunity to play on artificial turf.