From now till the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll scout and create profiles for as many prospects as attainable, inspecting their strengths, weaknesses, and what they’ll carry to an NFL franchise. These gamers could possibly be potential top-10 picks, all the way in which to Day 3 choices, and precedence undrafted free brokers. At the moment, a scouting report on Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston.
#1 Maxwell Hairston/CB Kentucky – 5112, 186 kilos (Junior)
MEASUREMENTS
Participant
Ht/Wt
Hand Dimension
Arm Size
Wingspan
Maxwell Hairston
5112/186
8 7/8
31 1/2
76
40-Yard Sprint
10-Yard Sprint
Brief Shuttle
3-Cone
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Broad Leap
Vertical
Bench Press
N/A
N/A
N/A
*Professional Day Measurements/Numbers
The Good
– Fluid, plus athlete and straightforward mover total– Fast toes and retains steadiness underneath him, in a position to effortlessly change instructions and transition– Affected person in off-man and doesn’t chew on routes– Free, fluid hips, in a position to flip and run and reveals pace to match vertically– Rapidly breaks out of his backpedal, persistently jumped routes and picked off beneath throws– Reads ball within the space rather well, has nostril for the ball– Aggressive and desires to make performs on the soccer, routinely made splash performs– Prepared tackler, greatest when in a position to reduce down runners and defeats WR blocks, hit with energy post-catch alongside sideline– Can match and plaster– Number of coverages (zone, jam/sink, press, off-man)– Expertise blitzing off the sting– Assured with alpha mentality– Risk post-catch with ton of INT return yardage and a number of scores– Captain and chief with athletic bloodlines
The Dangerous
– Slight body with out a lot muscle, common size– Lacks play energy and struggles to wrap and end– Falls off tackles too simply, particularly when making an attempt to punch ball out– Drag-down tackler in area who struggles to get his man down– Need to see faster set off in opposition to the run, particularly in 2024 (partially as a result of boundary alignment)– Eyes can get caught in backfield and loses his man– Will get grabby when he loses sight on the ball– Requested to solely play boundary facet and didn’t need to work in area; would transfer to security alignment in journeys/3×1 nub to discipline and must modify at NFL stage– Slender construct and 2024 harm result in questions over sturdiness
Bio
– 32 video games, 20 profession begins for Wildcats– Profession: 89 tackles (3 TFL), 1 sack, 6 INTs (three pick-sixes) 10 PDs, 3 FF– 2024: 19 tackles (1 TFL) 1 sack, 4 PDs, missed 5 video games with shoulder harm, tried to play by it earlier than being shut down– 68 tackles (55 solo), 5 INTs in 2023, two returned for scores, profession common of 26 yards per INT; first participant at school historical past with pair of pick-sixes in identical recreation– Staff captain in 2024 and senior 12 months of highschool– Six penalties throughout 2023-2024 (three in a single recreation in 2023)– Three-star recruit from West Bloomfield, Michigan, selected Kentucky over Kansas, Military/Navy, West Virginia, and ton of mid-major packages (36 complete affords)– Listed at 160 kilos out of HS, performed WR and DB whereas additionally competing in monitor; grew up enjoying basketball– Didn’t enable catch senior 12 months of highschool till regional remaining (TD in opposition to Oklahoma WR Deion Burks)– Nickname is “Mad Max”– Cousin of NFL participant Taiwan Jones; one other cousin performed soccer at Kentucky; third cousin performed basketball at Michigan State and in NBA– Hidden expertise is singing and was in highschool choir– Highschool coach referred to as him “natural leader and high character”– Missed unknown period of time in 2021 whereas away from staff as a result of private subject
Tape Breakdown
Maxwell Hairston is certainly one of a number of Michigan natives to make their manner all the way down to Kentucky. Hairston began for simply two years and missed practically half of 2024 with a nagging shoulder harm, however he nonetheless made an impression. Although not an enormous man, he’s athletic with good toes and change-of-direction abilities. Fluid hips, can flip and run, and the man has a nostril for the ball. He as soon as mentioned his model is enjoying “greedy” and it interprets to the tape.
His play is plagued by aggressive moments on the ball, and also you’ll discover few corners who can time and leap routes like Hairston. He’s explosive on the high of his pedal and reads effectively in off-man. He needs to be simple to identify in these clips but it surely’s value noting he wore No. 31 in 2023 and No. 1 in 2024, in case you discover completely different jersey numbers and marvel if there’s a mistake.
Watch him mid-point these two receivers, discover the ball, get his hips round, and end. Actually good things.
Hairston additionally looks like a heck of a frontrunner, a captain in highschool and at Kentucky regardless of being a junior in 2024. All the things I’ve examine him from coaches, teammates, and Hairston’s personal phrases, paint him as supremely assured and embracing being 1v1. It’s the mentality each nook should have to succeed.
There’s want-to as a tackler, don’t name him delicate, however he lacks dimension and energy and too simply falls off. Particularly when he’s making an attempt to punch the ball out, unable to wrap and punch in lots of instances. It’s truthful to notice his 2024 shoulder harm performed an element however even in tape with him wholesome, there have been points.
He can get too aggressive on the ball too, getting eyes caught within the backfield. Robust displaying right here with Hairston giving up a landing and within the latter clip, shedding his man with eyes on the quarterback.
I’m nervous about him solely being a boundary participant at Kentucky. Particularly with extensive school hashes, he didn’t need to function in a lot area and will use the sideline and leverage to his benefit. Even in 3×1 nub units, Hairston wouldn’t flip to the sector. As a substitute, he’d shift to security.
Going to the NFL and enjoying in much more area can be an adjustment.
Conclusion
General, Hairston is a enjoyable, ball-hawking cornerback and straightforward athlete. There are nice traits and make-up for his recreation. Getting stronger could be perfect however I don’t understand how a lot room there’s to develop there. Transitioning to enjoying in area additionally creates projection. Nonetheless, there’s quite a lot of constructive to wager on right here. Hairston can cowl and he could make splash performs on the ball, two issues each protection seems to be for. He’s a robust match for a zone/Cowl 3 protection.
My NFL comp is Desmond Trufant.
Projection: Mid-Day 2Depot Draft Grade: 8.3 – Second Spherical (Future High quality Starter)Video games Watched: vs Florida (2023), vs Missouri (2023), vs South Carolina (2024), vs Georgia (2024), INT cut-up
