Alex Afari could be positionless football player at Kentucky

In the class of 2022, Kentucky signed 12 blue-chip prospects. West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West defensive back Alex Afari was one of those.

The four-star prospect out of Metro Cincinnati was pursued late in the process by Luke Fickell’s staff at Cincinnati and Mel Tucker’s staff at Michigan State was also heavily involved in this recruitment. However, Vince Marrow was able to win out in the end.

The Wildcats are very excited about what the 6-foot-2 defensive back will bring to the table when he arrives on campus. Kentucky will start out Afari at cornerback, but the multi-dimensional player could fill numerous spots in Brad White’s 3-3-5 defensive structure.

“We had people going to extreme lengths right down to the wire to try to get him away from us,” Mark Stoops said about Afari on Thursday. “Alex has been committed to us for some time. He’s a DB, a big corner that can also be very versatile, playing in that medium position that we know is so important for us and could play safety. He’s a guy that’s a five-position player in my eyes, just a terrific football player.

Alex Afari impact at Kentucky

In 2021, we saw Kentucky transition to a hybrid look on defense. Both Davonte Robinson and Vito Tisdale were used as a Sam/Nickel defender that could do some things in the box but also split out cover skill talent players in space.

Alex Afari would seem to fit that mold.

The 200-pound defensive back recorded 60 tackles last season and also was a dynamic wide receiver in high school. Long-term, this could be a prospect that grows into his frame and ends up being a 220-225 pound player that is tailor-made for this hybrid role. The medium position is involved in blitz packages, must fit the run, and needs to be a solid coverage player in both zone and man concepts.

Alex Afari could check all of those boxes.

In 2022, Kentucky will return Tisdale and the Bowling Green (Ky.) High product will be a starter and a potential feature player on the defense as a junior. However, the Wildcats must find some depth. Afari could step in and help fill that role.

Defenses are always looking for players that can do multiple things. Alex Afari’s coverage ability as a cornerback, playmaking potential as a receiver, and physical traits could make him a perfect fit for Kentucky’s medium position.

Kentucky has found a positionless football player, and Afari appears to be a great fit in the scheme currently being used in Lexington.