MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Austin Kendall’s drama-filled week officially reached a happy ending.
Kendall enrolled at West Virginia on Thursday in the Sport Management graduate program, MetroNews learned. His enrollment at WVU concludes a saga that began when the Sooners decided to pursue Alabama graduate transfer Jalen Hurts, prompting Kendall to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 11.
Kendall announced his decision Friday morning.
Thank you Sooner nation for an amazing three years. I will never forget the connections and opportunities at OU.
There’s only ☝?. I am excited for this next step in my life and opportunity at West Virginia University. #HailWV pic.twitter.com/Jr5ut7h4YQ— Austin Kendall (@A_Kendall11) January 18, 2019
Per the Tulsa World, Kendall also filled out the initial enrollment paperwork at another Power 5 school before finalizing things at West Virginia early Friday morning.
Oklahoma initially blocked Kendall from moving to a school within the Big 12, but after much criticism, granted him a release to do so Wednesday. Time was of the essence for Kendall, who had to enroll in classes at West Virginia by Friday in order to be eligible for spring practices.
Kendall earned his Oklahoma undergraduate degree in December after three years on campus. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Mountaineers.
Kendall explained his decision to attend West Virginia to the Tulsa World.
“They are very passionate [about football],” Kendall told the World’s Eric Bailey. “The team that’s around here has great athletes. I’m excited to show what I have and can bring to the table, especially with coach Brown.”
When Brown was Kentucky’s offensive coordinator, he coached Kendall’s older brother and was part of Austin’s initial recruitment by the Wildcats.
Kendall also emphasized that he has no hard feelings towards Oklahoma after what transpired.
“I don’t know if people are going to say I hate OU now,” he told the World. “No. I graduated from there. All my best friends are there. I basically have family in Oklahoma now. That will last forever.”
Kendall played sparingly in 2016 and 2018 while redshirting during the 2017 season.
He has completed 28-of-39 pass attempts for 265 yards and three touchdowns while backing up Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Kendall is a pro-style quarterback, but not an immobile one. After subtracting the three sacks for minus-18 yards he took in his collegiate debut against Louisiana-Monroe, Kendall has scrambled for 47 yards on 10 rushing attempts.
A four-star recruit out of Cuthbertson High School in Waxhaw, N.C., Kendall was ranked by Rivals as the No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2016.
With Kendall in the fold, West Virginia is up to three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster.