From Backyard Battles to SEC Stardom: Alex Afari Jr.’s Unlikely Rise
Kentucky has Kaleb Johnson, a former Iowa running back, to thank for helping uncover one of its most versatile defensive talents: Alex Afari Jr.
Afari, now a senior at Kentucky, has emerged as a key piece in the Wildcats’ defense. But his journey began far from SEC country — and even further from a football field. Born in Italy and raised for several years in Ghana, Afari first learned “football” the way much of the world does — with a round ball. It wasn’t until age 8, when his family moved to Ohio, that he encountered the American version of the game.
That’s where Johnson and his grandfather stepped in.
“First day of practice, they put a helmet and shoulder pads on me,” Afari said Thursday at SEC Media Days. “I said, ‘This is not what I signed up for.’ But [Johnson’s grandpa] didn’t let me quit. He kept bringing me to practice. I’m just blessed to be here now.”
Johnson, drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers this year, was Afari’s childhood neighbor. Their backyard battles became an unlikely training ground for a future SEC linebacker. Johnson’s grandfather not only introduced Afari to the sport — he personally drove him to his first practices.
“I just learned off the fly,” Afari said. “We were practicing every day in the backyard. That’s how I got better — trying to tackle Kaleb.”
That was no easy task. Johnson forced 78 missed tackles and racked up over 1,000 yards after contact in his Iowa career. But over time, Afari’s confidence — and ability — grew.
“I wouldn’t say I was a natural,” Afari admitted. “I really started getting good in seventh grade. It took me time to understand the rules.”
Now 227 pounds, Afari arrived at Kentucky as a cornerback and initially played in the secondary. He later transitioned to a hybrid safety role before making the leap to inside linebacker last season — and he thrived. He finished third on the team in tackles, recorded 10 stops against Tennessee, and tallied 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a standout performance against Florida.
“He’s had a great career,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said. “We recruited him as a cornerback. He grew into a safety, then became a hybrid, and last year moved to inside linebacker. Just picked it up in a big way. He’s a great leader and a great person for us.”
Off the field, Afari still holds onto parts of his Ghanaian upbringing. He misses jollof rice — a spicy tomato-based West African dish — but he’s found other ways to adapt. While Lexington’s heat doesn’t compare to Ghana’s dry-season furnace, it’s familiar enough.
And he’s still aiming higher — toward the NFL and another shot at taking down his old backyard rival.
“I got stronger in the weight room, more explosive,” he said. “I feel like it’s going to translate on the field. Our strength coach has done a great job with all our players, changing our bodies, making us faster and stronger.”
Afari may not have known what American football was when he first suited up, but he’s come a long way — and his next chapter might be just beginning.
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