LEXINGTON — Kentucky football held its second and, according to first-year coach Will Stein, final scrimmage of preseason camp Saturday, Aug. 22, at Kroger Field.

The Wildcats' word of the day: turnovers.

Errors committed by the offense. Takeaways created by the defense.

"You never want to put the ball on the ground as an offensive player, and that's stuff that we can control," Stein said in a post-practice interview. "We preach ball excellence all the time on both sides of the ball — getting takeaways on defense and protecting the football on offense.

"So it's a little bit of a double-edged sword for me. ... I think when it's in our control, that's when it is not good. I didn't think our backs did a good enough job today protecting the football. But kudos to the defense as well."

Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan hit upon the same point.

"We put the ball on the ground a couple times. And if you do that, you won't play, right?" Sloan said. "It's just that simple."

Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman agreed to disagree. He thought the miscues produced by his group were "pretty cool," all things considered.

"I think we did a nice job attacking the football," Bateman said. "(Defensive back) Jordan Castell had a really nice play, punched the ball out. A couple guys got the ball up in the air, got a couple interceptions, did a nice job. ... I think that's such a big deal nowadays, right?

"You've got to cause turnovers."

Here are five takeaways from the Wildcats' final preseason scrimmage:

Linebacker Alex Afari is out. For now. What's next?

Alex Afari Jr., who appeared in 48 games the past four seasons (2022-25) at Kentucky, recently rejoined the team as he vies for a fifth season of eligibility. But after a federal appeals court in Colorado granted the NCAA's request for a stay in a case that initially had given Afari (and others) a fifth season, the native of Ghana no longer is practicing with the program.

"We'll monitor it and act accordingly," Stein said. "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."

Stein said Afari, who didn't participate in Saturday's scrimmage, won't take the field again until the eligibility fight concludes. The coach added it's out of his hands for now.

"I can't guide him in any way," Stein said. "He's probably got a good grasp on it, and so we're just trying to wait and see."

For the moment, it's the second linebacker UK has lost in as many weeks. Antonio O'Berry, who already had played five college seasons, was denied a sixth year last week by the NCAA.

"We've had the same team now since January, so Alex was a later addition. So those guys (in the linebacker room) have done a really good job," Stein said, "and I think (Elijah) 'Bo' Barnes and Grant Godfrey (have improved). Antwan Smith has become more physical, which is great. Tavion Wallace is still learning as a young freshman.

"So you play with the guys you've got, and you rock and roll."

QB Kenny Minchey is improving. Especially with his feet.

All eyes will be on Kenny Minchey this fall. For many reasons. One is that starting quarterback is the most high-profile position in the American sports landscape. The other is that he's never started a game in college, having attempted all of 29 passes in three seasons at Notre Dame.

The first week of camp, Stein admitted, wasn't one to write home about for Minchey. But the coach noted that went for the offense as a whole, which he said "struggled just to really get going." The unit, and Minchey, made strides this past week.

"Today, I thought he did a nice job of throwing the ball where he was supposed to," Stein said. "There were some drops that are out of his control, but I thought for the most part today, he played within himself and went where the ball was supposed to go."

Minchey has had, in Stein's estimation, "an elite camp" since the team resumed practice.

"He's improved," Stein said. "I thought he had his best week at practice."

The coaching staff has challenged Minchey to make more plays with his feet. He's responded in kind.

"He's in a black jersey in practice, so he can't get touched. But he can still learn to push the pocket and go take off," Stein said. "That has to happen for us. You know the best guys in the country, and in the world, can use their feet to go get first downs."

Minchey did precisely that Saturday. According to Sloan, Minchey had a near-40-yard scramble during a two-minute drill. Other times, he turned plays destined for little to no gain into second-and-6 opportunities.

"That's what he needs to do," Sloan said. "He's mobile, and then he allows us the ability to read the C-gap at quarterback. ... This week, that's where we were able to get some good runs vertically on the backside because our ends have slowed down because of what he did."

Who's in the driver's seat to be QB2 for the Wildcats?

Minchey is the unquestioned starter. But who will take the controls of the offense when he's not on the field?

The Cats don't lack for options. Aside from Minchey, they have six QBs listed on their roster. Only half that group appears to be in the running for second on the depth chart: freshman Matt Ponatoski, sophomore Brennen Ward and fifth-year senior Callum Wither.

Ask Sloan if any member of that trio has begun to separate himself, and the first player he names is the elder statesman.

"I think Callum did some really good things again today," Sloan said. "I thought he ripped a couple seam balls, threw some vertical balls. He had a couple guys make some freaky plays for him, which was nice of 'em. But I definitely think he's getting more comfortable running the team."

Of the less-seasoned candidates, Sloan said Ward "brings some athleticism to the position," while Ponatoski is "continuing to come along" and "throws the ball really well."

Read between the lines here.

Sloan reserved most of his praise for Wither.

If Minchey goes down with an injury, or is woefully ineffective early in the season, Wither will be first off the bench. If it's later in the season, when Ponatoski — the highest-ranked QB signee in program history, per 247Sports all-time rankings dating back to 2000 — has settled in, he'll be the pick.

Of course, given all the time, and money (via revenue sharing and name, image and likeness agreements) that UK has poured into Minchey, Ponatoski being forced into a large role this fall is the last thing Stein and Sloan want to see.

Courier Journal Sports (@courierjournal_sports) • Instagram photos and videos

Who are some breakout candidates for UK in 2026?

We'll keep this brief. But two players who garnered plenty of praise following Saturday's scrimmage aren't well-known commodities at the college level just yet.

But keep an eye on receiver Prince Jean, a freshman out of Valdosta, Georgia.

Defensively, look for Grant Grayton. A sophomore defensive back, he appeared in nine games for the Wildcats last season, starting against Vanderbilt and Tennessee Tech. Expect him to see far more snaps this fall.

Count out one RB option. Injury bug again bites Tovani Mizell

Tovani Mizell simply can't catch a break. Injuries have derailed his career since his senior year of high school, which ended before it began. Injuries sank his first two seasons in Lexington, with him appearing in only four games in that span, logging just four carries.

Now, injuries have set him back again: Stein announced Saturday that Mizell suffered another season-ending injury during camp.

"That's really disappointing for him more than anything," Stein said. "That guy has battled a lot of injuries here and honestly (has) had just a string of bad luck.

"It isn't for a lack of want to or working through. ... We're praying for him and there for him."

A multisport star during his prep career in Florida, Mizell once was committed to Georgia.

In a story previewing Kentucky's running backs that published Tuesday, Aug. 18, The Courier Journal wrote of Mizell, "If he avoids injury this fall, the Cats might have one of the sport's best-kept secrets on their hands."

That secret will linger at least one more season. And one must wonder whether it ever will be told.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How Kentucky football's Will Stein felt about Wildcats' 2nd scrimmage