Kentucky got a jolt after its first fall camp scrimmage when Will Stein announced that Alex Afari Jr. had returned to practice, and Sam Greene wasted no time making it clear what that means inside the locker room.
For Greene, who is coming back from the injury he suffered last season and trying to become a leader on a new-look defense, having Afari Jr. back in Lexington has already mattered. He called it a welcome addition and said the Wildcats needed him.
"It's been fun," Greene said. "That's a great addition. I feel like we definitely, definitely needed A-3."
Afari Jr.’s path back has been tangled up in the wider NCAA eligibility fight, with court rulings and lawsuits reshaping what “five-for-five” eligibility looks like. A Denver judge, Charlotte Sweeney, ruled that all class of 2022 athletes were eligible for a fifth year if they had not signed a pro contract, met the age requirements for five-for-five and could not enter the transfer portal without a separate court ruling.
That left the door open for Afari Jr., who wanted to come back to Kentucky for Stein’s first season. It does not mean he is suddenly back on the field for games, though.
His situation is still tied up in the shifting legal mess, with more rulings and appeals still possible. For now, he is simply back at practice.
Greene said watching that unfold has been strange in the best and most surreal way.
"It's been fun, just to see him go through that process, try to get picked up from the team, then have that ankle injury and just… come back," Greene said. "It's just surreal, really."
Even Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman sounded taken aback that Afari Jr. is even in position to return. Bateman said, "I honestly thought he'd get drafted," and pointed to Afari Jr.’s 31 career starts before adding, "I don't know many (defensive) coordinators that would be disappointed if a guy like that was able to come."
For Greene, the reunion also brought his own year into sharper focus. He talked about dealing with the aftermath of the torn ACL and partially torn meniscus he suffered against Florida last season, and how the injury forced him to confront how quickly everything can change. He said that experience helped him grow mentally and made him better as both a player and a person.
That perspective came right back to him in a conversation with Afari Jr. after his teammate returned.
"As soon as he got back, I asked him, like, 'What's one thing you regret?' Greene said.
"Cause he thought he'd never come back to Kentucky. He just said, 'Just taking every play.
Mentally. Taking every play into consideration.'"
Greene said that idea hit home, because it is the same approach he is trying to carry into the new season.
Nobody knows how long Afari Jr.’s return will last. The court rulings keep shifting, and there is no clear answer yet on whether this is just a temporary cameo or something more. But right now, his presence is already being felt by teammates who thought they had seen the last of him.
Greene said Afari Jr. is "excited" and "ready to go" as he tries to make the most of another chance in college football.
In Other News...
Kentucky Mourns A Beloved Voice From Its Championship Era
Joe Dean Jr., a former Kentucky assistant coach who later became one of the most recognizable voices around SEC basketball, has died at 71. His career tied him closely to the leagues biggest stages, from the bench at Kentucky to the broadcast booth, and he remained a familiar presence for fans who followed conference hoops over the years.
Dean also spent 17 years as athletics director at Birmingham-Southern, adding another long chapter to a career built around college sports. Around the SEC, he was widely respected for his steady, upbeat approach and for the way he carried himself with colleagues and fans alike, leaving behind a reputation that matched the era in which he made his name. [Read more 🡒]
Sam Greene Could Change Kentucky's Defense If He Finally Looks Like Himself
Sam Greene has spent much of his Kentucky stint working from the sideline rather than the lineup, but the linebackers presence has still been felt inside the defense. Jay Bateman praised Greenes leadership through a recovery from a torn ACL, noting that the USC transfer has stayed involved with younger players even while his practice reps have been limited. Greene started nine games last season, and Kentucky has clearly been eager to get more of that experience back into the mix.
The next step is a meaningful one, because Greene is close to being able to practice fully again after a long rehab stretch. Bateman also sees a ceiling that goes well beyond steady veteran depth, pointing to Greenes playmaking ability in the same breath as Cashius Howell, the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year. For a defense looking for more impact pieces, Greene still has a chance to become one of the most important names on the roster if he can finally look like himself again. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Final Roster Decision Could Define Mark Popes Frontcourt
Kentuckys frontcourt puzzle is still coming into focus, and the next step comes in the form of a Zoom meeting with Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler. The Wildcats have kept recruiting options open as Mark Pope and his staff sort through the last piece of the roster, with Kohler now in the mix after entering the transfer portal and drawing attention from a program still looking to settle its big-man plans.
The timing matters because the final call is tied to more than just fit on paper. Kohler is being weighed against Mark Mitchell for that last spot, and Mitchells situation remains unresolved while he waits on a court ruling on his eligibility. Until that picture clears up, Kentucky is left balancing immediate roster needs with the possibility that its finishing move in the frontcourt could hinge on whichever path opens first. [Read more 🡒]