From the bench to All-SEC: Aidan Laros on waiting his turn and excitement for this season

When he wasn’t defending his toughness to KSR on Friday’s show, Kentucky punter Aidan Laros spoke highly of how the team looks heading into his second year in Lexington. Laros was part of last year’s disappointing season for the Wildcats after transferring to Kentucky as an FCS All-American. Laros had his own struggles in 2024, finding himself as the second option at punter until Mark Stoops moved him into a starting role four games into the season, which proved to be the correct move.

This year, though, Laros enters his last year of college football with the punting job in hand (or on foot), even earning preseason All-SEC honors. He also sees an upgrade around the locker room as the program works to fix any culture or accountability issues from a year ago. Laros told KSR that he is around many of the players on both sides of the ball, and they’ve got a good group and culture in 2025.

“I love the team this year,” Laros said. “The new transfers are really down to earth, and it seems like a great brotherhood this year, and I can’t wait to get on the field with them because we’re getting there. We’re getting there. Once the first game hits, we’re ready.”

On starting his time at Kentucky on the bench

Laros was a solid addition to UK’s 2024 transfer portal class, bringing three years of game experience from Charlotte and UT Martin, where he was a consensus FCS All-American in 2023. However, Stoops elected to stick with returner Wilson Berry over Laros as UK’s starting punter, a decision that was met with controversy from the fans and even some within the locker room.

Stoops made the switch by Game 4, turning to Laros at punter for the final nine games of the season, which added five yards per punt to the team’s average from there.

Laros told KSR on Friday, “Look, I obviously had trust in the coaches. They brought me here for a reason. I can’t lie and say I wasn’t upset, but I’m not a guy that sits and pouts. I kept working and made my way onto the field, and I knew once I got onto the field, I’d do what I came to do.

“And yeah, I’ve got a big year coming up this year. We’ve got a great team, and (I’m) super excited to show America what we’ve got and I’ve got to prove.”

Hear Aidan Laros in Hour 2 of Friday’s KSR podcast