As the fastest player at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Kentucky Wildcats cornerback Maxwell Hairston certainly got his fair share of attention in Indianapolis.
After a collegiate career which saw him named a two-time All-SEC, Hairston figures to be one of the first cornerbacks selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Maxwell Hairston’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 5’11″
- Weight: 183 pounds
- Position: Cornerback
- School: Kentucky
- Current Year: Redshirt Junior
Hairston’s Scouting Report
A native of West Bloomfield, Mich., Hairston attended West Bloomfield High School and was a three-star recruit at cornerback, per 247Sports. He was also a track athlete and basketball player in high school. He committed to play college football at Kentucky, though he redshirted his 2021 freshman season.
Coming into his redshirt freshman year, Hairston wasn’t expected to contribute much in 2022. He played a back seat to future NFLers like Dru Phillips, Carrington Valentine, and Keidron Smith. That said, he did play in 12 games and finished the Youngstown State game with two tackles.
With Valentine and Smith departing for the NFL, Hairston took advantage and slid into Kentucky’s starting lineup. He started in all 13 games, finishing the year with five interceptions and six passes defended. Two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns.
Hairston’s interception and pick-six totals, as well as his 131 interception return yards, all led the SEC in 2023. He ended up named second-team All-SEC for his breakout performance.
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After a strong redshirt sophomore year, Hairston decided to return to the Wildcats to build up some more momentum. Though he missed five games due to a shoulder injury, he started in all seven games he played.
He finished the year with an interception and four passes defended, with his lone interception being returned for a touchdown. His allowed passer rating got a little bit higher, as it went from 67.5 in 2023 to 78.2 in 2024, according to PFF.
That said, Hairston displayed enough to warrant NFL looks and declared early for the 2025 NFL Draft, foregoing a redshirt senior season. His three interceptions returned for touchdowns is tied for fifth all-time in SEC history.
Strengths
- Elite athlete with the track speed and the in-game explosiveness to mirror fast receivers in coverage.
- Fluid cornerback with loose hips that allow him to change direction easily.
- Works well across his body in coverage.
- Has the deep speed coming out of his breaks needed to accelerate upfield and defend vertical route concepts.
- Ability to return interceptions for touchdowns makes him a dangerous threat with the ball in his hands.
- Longitudinal agility is very good, as he shoots downhill well coming out of his backpedal.
- Processes route concepts well in zone coverage, showcasing improved diagnostic speed in 2024.
- Does a good job of staying inside the receiver’s hip pocket in man coverage.
- Offers a sharp internal clock, allowing him to time his jumps onto a route at the right moment to make a play on the ball.
Weaknesses
- For someone with as many interceptions as he has, his ball-tracking skills on the deep ball aren’t as good as you’d expect.
- Listed at 6’1″ in college and measured at the NFL Combine at 5’11”.
- Lanky frame could prove to be an issue for him in the NFL.
- Doesn’t play with tremendous physicality in press; that lack of significant play strength can hurt him at the catch point against bigger receivers.
- Shows willingness as a tackler once he wraps up, but his angles in pursuit are too passive.
- More of a catch tackler than one who’s going to shoot downhill and go out of his way to get to the ball-carrier consistently.
- Missed time due to injury in 2024, and his skinnier frame could spark long-term durability concerns.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Armed with tremendous speed and a playmaking mentality, Hairston is one of the most fun defensive backs to watch in the 2025 NFL Draft.
His interception numbers speak for themselves, but he’s an aggressive playmaker underneath in coverage. He thrives in hook-curl zones and flat zones that allow him to shoot downhill and make a play on the ball.
Hairston’s testing athleticism reflects what you see from him on tape. He has the deep speed to defend vertical route concepts and can match some of the fastest receivers in the game stride for stride. His instincts in coverage have grown considerably since he began his collegiate career.
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The big concern with Hairston is his skinnier frame and lack of top-notch play strength. He won’t amaze you with his physicality, whether it’s as a tackler, in press coverage, or at the catch point. This is a clear limitation in his game that teams will have to accept early in his career.
In all, Hairston looks the part of a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on tape. His athleticism and ball skills underneath are top notch, but he could face some growing pains early on. If a team is willing to be patient with his development, they could have a high-end starting cornerback on their hands.