Kentucky's Alex Afari made the Butkus Award's Preseason Watch List
Eighteen of the Southeastern Conference’s best linebackers were named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Butkus Award. Kentucky’s Alex Afari, who has played meaningful minutes since his true freshman season, was among them ahead of his senior season in Lexington as he takes on an even bigger role on defense. He’s already played in 38 career games with 21 starts, tallying 132 tackles in three years, with 19.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Mark Stoops said on Monday, “He’s a guy that’s proven himself, and he is one of those guys that has been a great leader. Just had a great summer, as far as physically taking it to another level. Last year was a great I would say, I was just so pleasantly pleased with him a year ago, making that transition, moving inside, and how well he played a year ago. I expect him to take another step.”
[‘I expect him to take another step’: Kentucky believes in Alex Afari Jr. at linebacker]
2025 Butkus Award Watch List
- Deontae Lawson, Alabama
- Justin Jefferson, Alabama
- Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
- Xavian Sorey, Arkansas
- Keaton Thomas, Baylor
- Isaiah Glasker, BYU
- Jack Kelly, BYU
- Jordan Kwiatkowski, Central Michigan
- Sammy Brown, Clemson
- Wade Woodaz, Clemson
- Chris Cole, Georgia
- CJ Allen, Georgia
- Aiden Fisher, Indiana
- Austin Romaine, Kansas State
- Alex Afari, Kentucky
- Stanquan Clark, Louisville
- Harold Perkins, LSU
- Whit Weeks, LSU
- Daniel Wingate, Maryland
- Wesley Bissainthe, Miami-Fla.
- Ernest Hausmann, Michigan
- Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
- Andrew Jones, Mississippi
- TJ Dottery, Mississippi
- Jalen Smith, Mississippi State
- Triston Newson, Missouri
- Andrew Simpson, North Carolina
- Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame
- Jaylen Sneed, Notre Dame
- Arvell Reese, Ohio State
- Sonny Styles, Ohio State
- Kip Lewis, Oklahoma
- Sammy Omosigho, Oklahoma
- Bryan McCoy, Oklahoma State
- Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
- Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
- Devon Jackson, Oregon
- Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
- Rasheem Biles, Pittsburgh
- Mani Powell, Purdue
- Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU
- Arion Carter, Tennessee
- Anthony Hill, Texas
- Liona Lefau, Texas
- Taurean York, Texas A&M
- Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
- Eric Gentry, USC
- Lander Barton, Utah
- Caleb Woodson, Virginia Tech
- Taariq Al-Uqdah, Washington
- Christian Alliegro, Wisconsin
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