The Kentucky Wildcats and Big Blue Nation received some amazing news on Wednesday. After previously being eligible to practice for a few days before a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision ruled him ineligible as part of the Colorado judge’s ruling involving the 5-for-5 rule, Afari had to go the state route to try to gain a fifth year of eligibility.
Judge Brian Edwards of the Louisville court case that involved Mark Mitchell and other plaintiffs granted Alex Afari a TRO to be included in the case and is now eligible for Kentucky Football. This is great because game week is here and this news couldn’t have come at a better time.
Will Stein and the staff now have just a few days to implement Afari back into the rotation in practice. Will he actually play on Saturday? Who knows for sure yet, but as of now it looks as though Afari will suit up for the Wildcats this season.
It was a long and confusing few weeks for Kentucky and Afari especially as they worked to figure out what was going on regarding his eligibility status.
“It’s to be determined. You know as much as I do,” Stein said a few weeks ago following the original ruling that had Afari ineligible to play.
“We’ll monitor it and act accordingly. He was obviously practicing with us and getting prepped, but I think everybody’s still in limbo, trying to figure it all out and waiting for these rulings to happen. We will be ready to roll whatever side is ruled on.”
Now, Afari is back for good and there shouldn’t be anything else to worry about before the season officially kicks off on Saturday. It was clear when it became a possibility that Will Stein was going to do whatever he could to get someone like Afari on his team following the Colorado judge’s 5-for-5 ruling.
Stein spoke on this topic in early August:
“I think it’s still a wait-and-see. People are not quick to act just because it’s something that’s reported on Twitter, and some judges are ruling in favor of student-athletes getting their fifth year back. But any time that we can enhance our roster, I’m going to be full steam ahead.”
Kentucky received a major lift at the perfect time at a position that is going to need guys like Alex Afari and Sam Greene to produce at a high level.
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