Maxwell Hairston

2023 – Sophomore
• Second Team All-SEC (Phil Steele, Coaches and AP)
• Honorable Mention All-America (CFN, Phil Steele)
• Second Team Midseason All-America (AP)
• Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Started in all 13 games
• Ranked fifth nationally in total interceptions with five
• Led the SEC in interceptions (5), interception returns (26.20), interception return yards (131), interception return TDs (2)
• Ranked eighth in the SEC in passes defended (11)
• Totaled 68 tackles (third on the team) and a team-high six pass breakups to go along with his team-high five INTs … Also had a forced fumble
• His five interceptions tied for fifth-most interceptions in a single season in program history
• His five in a single season are the most since Sam Maxwell in 2009 (6)
• Totaled 131 interception return yards, most since Greg Long had 176 return yards in 1981 (school record is 197 by Dave Hunter in 1968)
• Got his fifth interception this season, including his fourth in league action, vs. Missouri
• Intercepted his fourth pass of the season and fourth of his career in the game at No. 1 Georgia
• Named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, the Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week and the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after tying an SEC record and setting a school record with two pass interception returns for touchdowns, and added a career-high three pass breakups, in the win over Vanderbilt
• Intercepted a pass in the first quarter and returned it 29 yards for the touchdown, giving UK a 14-0 cushion … His interception and 54-yard TD return in the fourth quarter clinched the outcome
• Became just the sixth player in league annals to have two pick-sixes in one game
• Got his first collegiate start vs. Ball State in the season opener and made a career-high eight tackles, including seven solo tackles, which led the UK defense … Also had a forced fumble
• Recorded his first career interception vs. EKU
• Had a career-high 10 tackles, including eight solo tackles and one-half tackle for loss (-1 yard), in the win over No. 22/23 Florida

2022 – r-Freshman
• Played in 12 games and totaled two tackles
• Got a career-best two tackles in the win over Youngstown State

2021 – Freshman
• Redshirt season

High School
• Rated a three-star prospect by 247sports
• Ranked the No. 19 prospect in Michigan and No. 65 cornerback nationally by 247sports
• A two-way player at defensive back and wide receiver for head coach Ron Bellamy at West Bloomfield
• Voted team captain as a senior
• Totaled 23 tackles, 16 pass breakups, three interceptions and three forced fumbles on defense and 500 receiving yards and eight scores on offense in 2020
• Led the Lakers to the 2020 Division I state championship title
• Named first-team All-State by the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News
• Named to the All-Oakland Athletic Association Team in 2020
• Helped West Bloomfield to a 10-2 record as a junior in 2019
• Current UK running back Tyler Markray also hails from West Bloomfield
• Picked Kentucky over offers from Arkansas, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and others due to “the coaching staff and the relationship we built.”
• Also lettered in track and basketball
• Honor roll student
• Member of the school’s choir

Personal
• Born in West Bloomfield, Michigan
• Son of Robin and Marvin Hairston
• Has three older siblings Alexandria, Madison, and Marvin
• Cousin Jaylin Bannerman played football two seasons at UK; cousin, Taiwan Jones, played football at Michigan State and with the New York Jets; cousin Lyndsey Hairston played basketball at Michigan State and later in the NBA and overseas
• Major is community and leadership development

Maxwell Says
• His nickname is “Mad Max”• Other than play in the NFL, his dream job is to be a businessman or coach
• He chose Kentucky because he saw an opportunity he couldn’t resist
• One thing most people don’t know about him is that he can sing
• One word to describe him on the field is “greedy”

2022

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0