Tag: Maxwell Hairston

Kentucky could get a huge boost with a returning player after the bye

Cornerback Maxwell Hairston appears ready to return to the Kentucky lineup after the bye week.

There’s no doubt that the 2024 season has not been what Kentucky football envisioned, either by fans or the team. It’s also clear that injuries to multiple key players has played a big part in the way things have gone.

However, the Wildcats could be getting some good news in that department after the bye. One key player appears set to return to the lineup.

Head coach Mark Stoops has said that he expects cornerback Maxwell Hairston to be in the lineup against Murray State when the team returns from the bye week. He has missed multiple games with a shoulder injury.

Related: Deone Walker in first round of recent mock drafts

Hairston was one of the stars of the team heading into the season. He was a preseason award nominee, and many thought he could be one of the better cornerbacks, not just in the SEC, but in the country.

A shoulder injury caused him to miss Kentucky’s last five games. His return would be a huge boost to a defense that has struggled in recent weeks without him.

Is Maxwell Hairston playing today? Injury updates for the Kentucky cornerback

Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston is dealing with a shoulder injury. Here are the latest updates.

Kentucky football plays Auburn on Saturday night and it’s a must win game. The Wildcats have lost two straight games and find themselves with a 3 – 4 record overall, and just 1 – 4 verus SEC opponents.

Injuries have certainly played a part in Kentucky’s recent struggles. They’ll be without multiple starters once again when the play the Tigers.

One of their stars, Maxwell Hairston, has been dealing with an injury that has cause him to miss Kentucky’s last three games. What is his status for Saturday?

Maxwell Hairston injury update

Maxwell Hairston will miss his fourth consecutive game against Auburn with a nagging shoulder injury.

How long will Maxwell Hairston be out?

His long-term status is still unknown at this point. He’s the most talented cornerback on the team, and his return would be a huge boost.

Kentucky cornerback depth chart

D.J. Waller will likely start in place of Waller, with Freshman Terhyon Nichols certain to play as well. Auburn’s offense isn’t one of the higher-scoring in the nation, but they do pass the ball well. With Hairston out, Kentucky will need the secondary to bounce back after a tough game against Florida.

Cornerback Maxwell Hairston will be out again versus Vanderbilt

Maxwell Hairston won’t play for Kentucky football after being listed as out on the availability report.

Kentucky football was without the services of cornerback Maxwell Hairston when the upset Ole Miss in week five. If they want to take out Vanderbilt this week, they’ll have to do it without their top defensive back once again.

The first availability report of the week was released on Wednesday night and Hairston has already been given the “out” designation. He is one of ten players on the report for Kentucky.

Related: Kentucky vs Vanderbilt: Five things to watch for

Running back Chip Trayanum joins Hairston as “out” on Saturday, as he continues to deal with his hand injury. Quarterback Brock Vandagriff also showed up this week, although he is listed as “probable.”

The SEC teams will continue to update the availability report throughout the rest of the week, including on final update on Saturday. Here is the full list of names on Wednesday night’s first report of the week. Players can be listed as out, doubtful, questionable, or probable, which translates to 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% chance to play respectively.

Chip Trayanum – Running back: Out

Maxwell Hairston – Cornerback: Out

Josaih Hayes – Defensive line: Out

Tavion Gadson – Defensive line: Out

Darrion Henry-Young – Defensive line: Out

Terhyon Nichols – Cornerback: Doubtful

Brock Vandagriff – Quarterback: Probable

Keeshawn Silver – Defensive line: Probable

Courtland Ford – Offensive line: Probable

Hardley Gilmore IV – Wide receiver: Probable

Kentucky suffers a huge blow as a key defender is ruled out vs Ole Miss

Cornerback Maxwell Hairston has been ruled out for Kentucky football vs Ole Miss.

On Saturday, Kentucky football will face its second top five team of the season when they travel to play Ole Miss. It is a difficult matchup with one of the top offenses in the country, and now it will be even tougher with cornerback Maxwell Hairston being ruled out.

Hairston showed up on the availability report on Thursday, as questionable, but on Friday, that status was changed to “out.” Against an offense like Ole Miss, that’s a devastating turn of events.

Related: Chip Trayanum ruled out vs Ole Miss

Hairston is not only Kentucky’s best cornerback, he’s one of the top DBs in the country. His ability to lock down one receiver would be helpful against an offense that hasn’t scored less than 40 points in a game this year.

With Hairston out, Mark Stoops will likely rely on JQ Hardaway and some of the depth pieces at cornerback to step up. Transfer D.J. Waller could see plenty of minutes, and get a chance to show what he can do.

It’s a tough game to have to miss, but the Cats are off the following week, giving Hairston time to hopefully get his shoulder feeling 100%.

Best photos from Kentucky football’s Week 4 victory over Ohio Bobcats

We take a look at some of the best photos from the Wildcats’ 41-6 win over Ohio on Saturday.

The Kentucky Wildcats got back in the win column Saturday with a much-needed 41-6 victory over the Ohio Bobcats at Kroger Field.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak after Kentucky was blown out by South Carolina in Week 2, only to take the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs down to the wire a week later in Lexington.

After a slow start Saturday, the offense found the end-zone for the first time in nine quarters. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye had two short touchdown runs and Barion Brown had a 23-yard rush for a score.

Quarterback Brock Vandagriff finished 17-of-24 for 237 yards with receiver Dane Key hauling in seven catches for a career-high 145 yards. The Wildcats finished the afternoon with 488 total yards.

Defensively, Kentucky held Ohio to 223 yards. Cornerback Maxwell Hairston had a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter that gave Kentucky a 27-0 lead en route to the victory.

RELATED: Social media reacts to Kentucky football’s blowout of Ohio

Kentucky will face No. 5 Ole Miss next Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon ET.

Here are some of the best photos from Kentucky’s victory over Ohio at Kroger Field Saturday.

There are two big availability downgrades on Friday for Kentucky football

Maxwell Hairston and Gerald Mincey were both downgraded to questionable on Friday.

Throughout the week, SEC teams are required to submit availability reports, designating any player with an injury with either Out, Doubful, Questionable, or Probable. Quarterback Brock Vandagriff was added to the report on  Thursday, listed as probable.

On Friday, an updated availability report from Kentucky downgraded two Wildcats starters, and it could have a huge impact on the game.

Cornerback Maxwell Hairston and tackle Gerald Mincey are both now listed as questionable for Saturday’s game. That means they have a 50% chance of playing against the Georgia Bulldogs.

Related: Kentucky vs Georgia: Five things to watch for

The absence of either, or both, of those players would be a blow to any hopes Kentucky had of keeping the game close.

Hairston is the team’s best cornerback, and started the season on the preseason watch lists for both the Jim Thorpe Award and the Bednarik Award. If he misses the game, it will certainly aid Georgia quarterback Carson Beck.

Mincey starts at right tackle for the Cats, and on an offensive line that was beaten up last week, they can’t afford more missing players. Guard Jager Burton is already listed as out.

The Wildcats will update the availability report on Saturday, before the game against top-ranked Georgia.

Four Kentucky players make list of Top 150 college football player rankings for 2024

Deone Walker and Barion Brown were the two highest-ranked Kentucky players on CBS Sports’ list, which also included Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Maxwell Hairston.

CBS Sports unveiled its rankings of the Top 151 college football players heading into the 2024 season Monday.

Four Kentucky players made the list, with defensive lineman Deone Walker the highest-ranked Wildcats player at No. 40 overall. Walker was followed by receiver/return specialist Barion Brown at No. 46.

Linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson (No. 113 overall) and cornerback Maxwell Hairston made the list (No. 124), as well.

Walker enters his junior season having been named to various preseason awards watch lists, including the Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy.

College football analyst Blake Brockermeyer said of Walker:

“The All-SEC defensive tackle is a presence in the middle and has tons of game experience, starting 25 of the last 26 for the Wildcats. Walker is surprisingly quick and athletic in condensed spaces and has a knack for finding the football while he’s being double teamed. His road to 7.5 sacks last season was paved by power first, counters and hand-swipes second. Opponents want nothing to do with him, I promise you that. There are some T’Vondre Sweat vibes here.”

In ESPN’s rankings last week, Walker was ranked the No. 21 overall player heading into 2024.

The second highest ranked Wildcat on CBS Sports’ list, Brown finished last season with 40 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned three kicks for scores.

Brockermeyer had this to say about Brown:

“An explosive playmaker in multiple phases for the Wildcats. Brown doubles as a returner and has the ability to take it to the house any time he touches the ball, scoring three touchdowns on returns last year. Brown’s only knock is he suffered six drops last year and lost two fumbles. Has the ability to be one of the top receivers in the country but needs the ball more.”

Dumas-Johnson transferred to Kentucky from Georgia, where he was part of the Bulldogs’ 2022 national championship team that went 15-0. He played in nine games a season ago before suffering a broken forearm in Georgia’s Nov. 4 win at Missouri. Dumas-Johnson had 34 tackles (29 solo), 3.5 sacks and two passes defended in 2023.

For his part, Hairston had five interceptions last season, good for fifth in the nation and first in the SEC. He had two memorable interceptions returned for touchdown in Kentucky’s 45-28 win at Vanderbilt on Sept. 23, adding a forced fumbled and six passes defended across 13 games. Hairston was the only other ranked Wildcats player on ESPN’s list at No. 84 overall.

Kentucky opens the season in prime time on Aug. 31 at Kroger Field against Southern Miss, Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on SEC Network.

Two Kentucky players make ESPN list of Top 100 college football players for 2024

Deone Walker and Maxwell Hairston made ESPN’s Top 100 college football players list for 2024.

ESPN unveiled its Top 100 rankings of the best college football players heading into the 2024 season on Thursday.

Two Kentucky players made the list, and it’s two you can probably guess: defensive tackle Deone Walker and cornerback Maxwell Hairston.

Walker was ranked the No. 21 overall player, one spot below Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter at No. 20 and one spot ahead of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe at No. 22.

Walker has been named to a plethora of preseason awards watch lists, including the Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy.

RELATED: Maxwell Hairston, Deone Walker on preseason Bednarik Award Watch List

ESPN said of Walker’s spot at No. 21:

“The 6-6, 348-pound junior has started 24 straight games. Despite frequent double-teams, Walker led the Wildcats with 12.5 tackles for loss last season and finished eighth in the SEC with 7.5 sacks. He was a first-team All-SEC selection by the AP and is equally disruptive against both the run and pass. Walker also has incredible footwork.”

For his part, Hairston was ranked the No. 84 overall player in ESPN’s Top 100 list, one spot below Georgia running back Trevor Etienne.

Per ESPN’s ranking of Hairston:

“The junior from Michigan was ranked outside the top 100 cornerback prospects when he signed with the Wildcats in 2021. Last season, he led the SEC and ranked fifth nationally with five interceptions. In a 45-28 win at Vanderbilt, Hairston returned two interceptions for touchdowns and had a career-high three pass breakups.”

Hairston started all 13 games in 2023 and had five interceptions and 11 passes defended. He had six pass breakups to go with 68 total tackles and a forced fumble.

ESPN ranked Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr. at No. 1 overall in their Top 100 rankings.

 

Maxwell Hairston, Deone Walker on preseason Bednarik Award Watch List

Two Kentucky standouts have been named to the preseason Bednarik Award Watch List.

Two Kentucky standouts were named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List on Monday: defensive tackle Deone Walker and cornerback Maxwell Hairston.

As a sophomore in 2023, Walker had 55 tackles and led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss to go with seven sacks and eight quarterback hurries.

The Bednarik Award is the fourth preseason award watch list that Walker has been named to. He was also named to the watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Outland Trophy (presented to the nation’s best interior lineman).

For his part, Hairston returns for his junior season after totaling five interceptions in 2023, good for fifth in the nation. In the Wildcats’ 45-28 victory over Vanderbilt on Sept. 23, Hairston had two interception returns for touchdowns.

Hairston has also been named to the preseason watch lists for the Jim Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

The Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994. It is named in honor of the late College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker.

NC State’s Payton Wilson Jr. won the Bednarik Award last season.

Kentucky opens the 2024 season at Kroger Field against Southern Miss, Aug. 31 at 7:45 p.m. ET . The game can be seen on SEC Network.

Maxwell Hairston named to Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List

The Jim Thorpe Award is awarded annually to the nation’s top defensive back.

Kentucky defensive back Maxwell Hairston was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List Wednesday, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded annually to the nation’s best defensive back.

Hairston had five interceptions a season ago with Kentucky, the fifth most in the nation. Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 45-28 victory over Vanderbilt on Sept. 23. He returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and later returned one 54 yards in the fourth quarter. He ranked eighth in the SEC in passes defended with 11 in 2023.

A total of 42 finalists were named to the Jim Thorpe Watch List on Wednesday, including Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Colorado’s Travis Hunter. Semifinalists for the award will be announced Oct. 29.

Entering his junior season, Hairston is one of five Kentucky players named to the 2024 Preseason SEC Media Days All-Southeastern Conference Team. Defensive end Deone Walker, wide receiver/return specialist Barion Brown, offensive lineman Marques Cox and senior linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson were also named.