Maxwell Hairston is poised to continue Kentucky's NFL Draft pipeline at cornerback

The Kentucky football program has a recruit and develop motto. That’s definition has changed in the transfer portal era, but the goal remains the same. The Wildcats want to find good football players, develop them, and see their college football journey end at the NFL Draft. Kentucky keeps hitting this goal at cornerback.

We have seen six defensive backs selected in the NFL Draft over the last six years. Five of those players played outside cornerback at Kentucky.

• Lonnie Johnson Jr. (2nd round, 2019)
• Mike Edwards (3rd round, 2019)
• Kelvin Joseph (2nd round, 2021)
• Brandin Echols (6th round, 2021)
• Carrington Valentine (7th round, 2023)
• Andru Phillips (3rd round, 2024)

That’s four Day 3 picks and two other players (Echols and Valentine) who have made 53-man rosters and earned significant playing time. Another player could join the pipeline in 2025.

Maxwell Hairston has started to receive some legitimate NFL Draft buzz with the 2024 college football season quickly approaching. Could the redshirt junior find a way to sneak into the first round? He just might.

Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy believes Kentucky is doing a great job developing cornerbacks and Hairston is someone who could find his way to Mobile in the winter for the the biggest pre-draft event on the calendar.

Few schools in CFB 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙩 & 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥 like Mark Stoops' Kentucky program.

For second straight year, @UKFootball will have former 3-star among top CBs in NFL draft.

Last year, Andru Phillips used big @seniorbowl week to elevate to third round and Max Hairston is… pic.twitter.com/j6Qn7cKA3B

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) August 24, 2024

“Perhaps coolest thing about Hairston’s speed profile is that he has a crazy competitive gear whenever he needs it,” Nagy wrote about the Kentucky cornerback. Trust us, he’s noticeably different level of juice when ball is in air or after he gets his hands on INTs (two pick-sixes last year).”

The West Bloomfield (Mich.) High product was a preseason All-SEC selection after earning second-team All-SEC honors as a redshirt sophomore when Maxwell Hairston accumulated 68 tackles, six pass breakups, and five interceptions in 13 starts. The class of 2021 signee enters year four at Kentucky as one of the best cornerbacks in the Southeastern Conference and gives the defense some much-needed experience and playmaking in the backend.

Kentucky keeps recruiting and developing good cornerbacks.