Kentucky OLB deemed ineligible by NCAA, Alex Afari returns to practice seeking 5th year
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Kentucky football underwent some roster movement on Saturday, and there is good news and bad news. Let’s start with the good news.
Former Wildcats linebacker Alex Afari Jr. has officially rejoined the program and is practicing with the team. Afari has been cleared to join practice but is still awaiting final word on his eligibility for the 2026 season.
Afari played 4 seasons with Kentucky and is back in Lexington thanks to the recent court rulings granting Class of 2022 student athletes an extra season, such as early August’s ruling in Colorado. He totaled 61 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season for Kentucky, so his addition would be a major boon for first-year HC Will Stein if he’s declared eligible for this season.
Now for the bad news.
Stein also mentioned on Saturday that Gardner-Webb edge transfer Antonio O’Berry has exhausted his eligibility, per the NCAA. He won’t be able to play this season after spending 3 years in Division 2 and 2 seasons in the FCS ranks with the Bulldogs.
O’Berry had a solid season with the Bulldogs, collecting 4.5 sacks and 51 total tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss. With O’Berry now ineligible for 2026, continue keeping an eye on Sam Greene and Lorenzo Cowan as UK’s top options at OLB.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
