Afari Jr. Returns for Fifth Season at Kentucky After Eligibility Fight
The short version
- Alex Afari Jr. won an injunction in Jefferson Circuit Court to regain a fifth year of eligibility
- An appeal briefly put the ruling on hold, sidelining him until the situation was resolved
- He recorded two tackles and a pass breakup in Kentucky's upset of Texas A&M
- Afari has appeared in 51 games over five seasons with the Wildcats
Linebacker Alex Afari Jr. won a court injunction to regain eligibility and is back with the Wildcats, recording two tackles in the upset of Texas A&M.
Alex Afari Jr. is back with Kentucky football for a fifth season after a legal fight over his eligibility. The linebacker, part of the 2022 high school graduating class initially denied an extra year by the NCAA, joined a successful injunction in Jefferson Circuit Court last month after hiring an attorney.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Sept. 23, in his first media availability since returning, Afari said the back-and-forth nature of the process was difficult. He practiced during preseason camp after the injunction, but an appeal placed the ruling on hold, and coach Will Stein kept him sidelined until the matter was resolved.
Afari appeared in the season-opening win over Youngstown State on Sept. 5 without recording a stat, then was also blanked against Alabama. He broke through in last week's upset of Texas A&M with two tackles and a pass breakup, though he said he is still learning defensive coordinator Jay Bateman's scheme by focusing on one position for now.
The Ghana native, who has played in 51 games across five seasons with the Wildcats, said transferring never entered his thinking. He cited his desire to finish where he started and help the program reach the postseason after missing bowl games the past two years.
