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.