Four Wildcats on Phil Steele Preseason All-SEC Team
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Four Wildcats have been named to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference team by Phil Steele, it was announced this week. Senior punter Aidan Laros was named to the second team, while graduate offensive linemen Joshua Braun and Alex Wollschlaeger earned third-team honors. Senior inside linebacker Alex Afari Jr. was listed on the fourth team.
Laros, a native of Cape Town, South Africa, transferred to UK in 2024 after two seasons at Charlotte and one at UT Martin. Last season, he saw action in all 12 games, handling kickoffs and serving as the Wildcat’s primary punter in the last nine games.
He totaled 32 punts for 1,453 yards for a 45.4 average. He totaled 10 fair catches and three touchbacks with 11 punts landing inside the 20-yard line. He had 10 punts that went over 50 yards, including a season-long 66-yard punt at Texas and a 61-yarder at Tennessee.
Off the field, Laros excels in the classroom with a double major in finance and accounting. He was named to the 2024 Division I Academic All-District Team by College Sports Communicators, was named to the Dean’s List for the Spring semester and earned a spot on the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
Braun, of Live Oak, Florida, is a 6-foot-6, 340-pound offensive lineman who transferred to Kentucky in January after two seasons at Arkansas and three seasons at Florida. He has played in 50 career games with 32 career starts. Last season at Arkansas, he started in all 12 games and played an integral role in helping Arkansas rush for 200-plus yards in its first three games of the season. In 2023, he was named second-team All-SEC by The Associated Press.
Braun earned a bachelor’s degree in classical studies from Florida in December of 2022 and a master’s of business administration from Arkansas in December of 2024. He is currently working on a graduate certificate in nonprofit management at UK.
Wollschlaeger is a 6-7, 310-pound graduate of Aurora, Illinois. He transferred to Kentucky in January after five seasons at Bowling Green State. During his career, he has amassed 2,341 career snaps as a three-year starter for the Falcons. He was a two-time All-Mid-American Conference selection and a two-time Academic All-MAC member.
In 2024, he started in 12 games at right tackle, helping lead the Falcons to a 7-5 overall record, including a 6-2 mark in conference play. He earned First Team All-MAC honors and was on the watch lists for the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award.
Wollschlaeger graduated cum laude from Bowling Green State in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in business and an emphasis in supply chain management and international business. He went on to earn a master’s of business administration from BGSU in December of 2024. He is currently working on an undergraduate certificate in business at UK.
Afari, a senior inside linebacker from Cincinnati, has totaled 132 career tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups in three seasons as a Wildcat.
He ranked third on the team in total tackles as a junior with 62 and led the team in tackles for loss with 11.0. He posted a career-high 10 tackles at Tennessee and vs. Louisville.
Afari, a member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and Dean’s List, is on track to graduate in the Spring of 2026 with a degree in communication.
Kentucky opens its 2025 football season on Saturday, Aug. 30 in Kroger Field vs. Toledo. The Rockets will be the first of seven home games. Those interested in buying tickets can take advantage of the overall value on season-ticket packages starting at $300.
Fans looking to buy tickets for the biggest games in the best seat locations, while avoiding markups on secondary market pricing, can request a call or contact the UK Sales Office directly at (800) 928-2287 (Option 1) or send an email to GroupSales@uky.edu for more information.
Mini-pack tickets for the 2025 football season are now available through UKFootballTix.com. Fans can choose three-game packages starting at $131 per ticket package. Prices vary based on opponent and seat location.
Fans can choose three-game and four-game packages.
Three-game (Starting at $131)
- Choose one game between the Ole Miss and Florida games
- Choose two games between Toledo, EMU, Tennessee Tech
Four-Game (Starting at $201)
- Includes both of the Ole Miss and Florida games
- Choose two games between Toledo, EMU, Tennessee Tech
Single-Game Tickets
Based on availability, tickets for single games will go on sale to the public later this summer. Verified resale tickets are available now for all home games through the UK Athletics Official Marketplace powered by Ticketmaster.
Current football season ticket holders will have a presale opportunity for any remaining single-game tickets, pending availability. Season ticket holders will receive more information by email.
Group ticket information is now available directly through the UK Sales Office by calling (800) 928-2287 (Option 1) or reaching out via email at GroupSales@uky.edu. To learn more about ticket options starting at just $26 for groups of 15 or more, visit UKathletics.com/Groups.
Away Game Tickets
Fans may also request tickets for Kentucky football’s road games at South Carolina, Georgia, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Louisville. Seat locations within the UK allotment will be assigned later this summer according to K Fund priority ranking, and football season ticket holders who order by June 27 will have priority in the assignment process.
Tailgate Options
UK Athletics and REVELxp have teamed up once again this year to offer turnkey, hassle-free tailgating for Kentucky football fans! All tailgates are located steps away from Kroger Field and offer a variety of package offerings to accommodate all groups. To learn more about tailgate packages, click here.
