Kentucky LB Alex Afari, vs. Dr. Michael Huang, KSR
Kentucky’s fall camp is off and running. Before the Cats officially begin the 2025 season, KSR is taking a closer look at the roster and analyzing each position group. Personnel, storylines, questions, and one bold prediction will be included.
Next up is a position where Kentucky is breaking in some new full-time starters.
Expected Starters
Daveren Rayner (6-2, 217, 6th)
The former Northern Illinois transfer is now in year three at Kentucky after preserving his redshirt by playing in only four game last season. Rayner has played over 1,300 career snaps with 150 tackles and 15 tackles for loss during his career. The Indianapolis native has been a highly productive LB3 for UK and will now get a chance to start in 2025.
Rayner has never played 500 defensive snaps in a season. That will need to change in 2025 as Kentucky will need the veteran on the field to be at their best throughout the year.
Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Daveren Rayner (17) during the third quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Kroger Field.
Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Daveren Rayner (17) during the third quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Alex Afari Jr. (6-2, 227, Sr.)
The former four-star recruiting win out of West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West made the position switch from standup Sam linebacker to inside linebacker last fall. Afari started four games for the Wildcats at off-ball linebacker and finished the season with 62 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. The veteran brings playmaking to the table but must become a more well-rounded player in the box.
Kentucky is all-in on Afari in this new positions and needs the veteran to become a consistent playmaker in the middle of this defense.
Kentucky’s Linebacker Room
Mike Stoops is now in year four as Kentucky’s linebackers coach and will oversee a room with eight scholarship players this fall. The starters are locked in but the Cats must develop some young players at this position.
Landyn Watson (6-1, 242, RSr.)
After beginning his career at TCU, Watson spent the last two seasons at Marshall. The former high three-star recruit recorded 69 tackles and four tackles for loss playing in the Sun Belt last fall. Watson gives this room some much needed size. The fifth-year player is currently LB3 but is expected to play a lot of snaps this season.
Grant Godfrey (6-3, 234, RSo.)
The former four-star recruiting win for Kentucky out of Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett is now in year three in the program and got some playing time last year when injuries started to pile up at linebacker. Godfrey brings good size and athleticism to the position. Posted nine tackles in seven games last season.
The Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake product played primarily on special teams in year one where his track speed showed up in kick coverage. Smith is still growing at the position, but is firmly entrenched with the second unit right. An important developmental prospect who should get a chance to play some this season.
The late addition to the 2024 high school recruiting class was redshirted in year one. Norman is yet another Georgia native in this linebacker room. Has some positional versatility with Mike and Will. Should be a special teams contributor this season.
The Peach State linebacker picked Kentucky over LSU but took a redshirt during his first season on campus. Smith is likely a special teams player this season who will look to climb up the depth chart.
A very late addition to the 2025 signing class, Thompson announced his Kentucky commitment in late June and then reported to campus. The three-star recruit jumped right into practice with the team but likely needs a redshirt season to get acclimated.
Big Question: Does a young player emerge?
Grant Godfrey is now in year three with the Kentucky football program and is still looking for a way to get on the field consistently. There is an avenue to find his way into the rotation and it includes a strong spring practice.
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Could anyone else emerge? One of the young linebackers from the 2024 high school signing class could make a splash this season.
Daveren Rayner, Alex Afari Jr., and Landyn Watson appear to be the clear top three players at this position. Godfrey is also in the mix. Could Antwan Smith or another young player become a factor?
Top Storyline: Breaking in two new starters
Alex Afari Jr. is in his second season at off-ball linebacker. Daveren Rayner has never played 500 defensive snaps in a single season. Kentucky is heavily reliant on both this season. The defense needs each veteran to peform.
How these two players play in the middle will be a big talking point throughout the fall.
Is Kentucky big enough to at linebacker? Can this group provide consistent havoc creation while also being sturdy against the run? We’ve seen both players have successful moments during their Kentucky career but now they will have to produce for an extended period.
These are two old players who are finally getting a chance to be a full-time starter. Without much proven depth behind them, Kentucky needs both to play well and to play a lot.
Bold Prediction: Alex Afari Jr. leads the team in tackles for loss again
Alex Afari Jr. has been a true utility man for the Kentucky defense throughout his career. However, we have not seen Afari on the field for an extended duration due to positional need as a nickel/safety and a short-term run as a starting linebacker last year.
What happens when this player finally plays over 500 snaps in a season. Could the strong havoc creation follow?
Afari has recorded 20 tackles for loss in 1,255 career snaps. The athletic linebacker was a productive gap shooter last year who could get into the backfield and make negative plays. Down-to-down efficiency will need to improve but this is a player that can create some chaos.
What could that havoc production look like in a big sample size?
After recording 6.5 tackles for loss over the last five games, Afari becomes one of the top tackles for loss producers in the SEC and reaches double-digits again as a player that UK will not want off the field this season.
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