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Orangeburg Prep will head into the upcoming season with some NFL experience on their side.

Former Minnesota Viking Willie Offord has joined the Indians’ coaching staff as the new strength and conditioning coach. For OPS athletic director Todd Layton, the thought of having a former NFL player on the staff hasn’t quite sunk in yet.

“It’s kind of beyond words for me a little bit,” Layton said. “I’m still pinching myself about picking him up. It was a huge hire for our entire program.”

Offord played safety at the University of South Carolina from 1998 to 2001. From there, he was drafted in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. During his time with the Vikings, he was the special teams captain for three years. However, injuries to his wrist and knee forced Offord onto the sidelines and eventually out of the NFL.

With his professional career behind him, Offord looks forward to coaching this season.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” Offord said. “It gives me a chance to stay around football and teach those guys some football basics and win some games.”

After making a few calls, Offord was directed to OPS, where his former Gamecock teammate Adam Holmes is coaching the offensive line. Once Layton found out that Offord was available, he was able to bring him aboard.

“The wealth and knowledge and experience he has,” Layton said, “it’s huge for our kids. We knew it was a great opportunity and we couldn’t let it pass up.”

Offord may be the Indians’ strength and conditioning coach, but he’s looking to have more of a personal impact with the athletes he works with.

“I hope the players respond to me a little bit differently since I have played and they’ve seen me play,” Offord said. “I’m trying to bring some excitement, bring some experience and relate to the players as a little bit more than just a coach.”

Offord will not only be working with the football team, but he’ll be working with the entire athletics program. That’s something that Layton believes will keep his school competitive.

“Most of the bigger schools in SCISA and 3-A, they’re all getting strength and conditioning coaches,” he said. “We don’t want to get behind the 8-ball on that. Hammond has one and so does Augusta Christian. They’re about the two best (schools) in our league. If we want to compete, we’ve got to do those things in order to keep up with them.”

n T&D Sports Writer Emery Glover can be reached by e-mail at eglover@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532. Check out his blog, Cover 2, at www.TheTandD.com.

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