Afari is set to be one Kentucky’s most important defenders for the 2025 college football season.
Kentucky Wildcats senior Alex Afari Jr. has been named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s top linebacker. The 41st annual award is named for famed linebacker Dick Butkus, a Hall of Famer known as one of the most feared defenders in football history.
Afari, a senior inside linebacker from Cincinnati, has totaled 132 career tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups in three seasons as a Wildcat.
He ranked third on the team in total tackles as a junior with 62 and led the team in tackles for loss with 11.0. He posted a career-high 10 tackles at Tennessee and vs. Louisville.
Afari, a member of the Southeastern Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll and UK Dean’s List, is on track to graduate in the Spring of 2026 with a degree in communication.
He was also named to the preseason All-SEC teams by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Award semi-finalists will be named November 4, finalists November 25, and the winner revealed by December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in early 2026.