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Maxwell Hairston posted one of the best 40-yard dash times you’ll see from a cornerback at the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday.
The former Kentucky defensive back ran a 4.30 on his first attempt. On his second attempt, he ran an official 4.28-second 40. (The unofficial time was a 4.29; it has since been made official.)
That mark ties Hairston with 5 other players for the 10th-fasted 40-yard dash in recent NFL Combine history. (Records date back to 2006.) Only 3 corners have posted a faster 40 at the Combine — Baylor’s Kalon Barnes (4.23, 2022), Michigan’s DJ Turner (4.26, 2023), and UTSA’s Riq Woolen (4.26, 2022).
According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats account, Hairston reached a top speed of 24.25 miles per hour on his second attempt. That’s the fifth-fastest by a player at the Combine in the last 3 years.
Hairston also matched former Texas DB Jahdae Barron, former Ohio State DB Denzel Burke, and former Rutgers DB Robert Longerbeam for the second-fasted 10-yard split by a corner at the Combine (1.50 seconds).
In the mock draft Mel Kiper Jr. put together for ESPN before the start of the Combine, Hairston was slated to go 29th overall to the Washington Commanders. Kiper ranked Hairston as the fourth-best pure corner in the draft.
Given his showing at the Combine, Hairston might see himself moving up boards. The athletic ability was on full display. The tape was already there to back up Hairston as a worthy first-round selection.
In 2 seasons as a starter at Kentucky, the 6-foot-1 defensive back tied a school record for career pick-sixes. He was a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2024 despite missing 5 games with an injury. He finished the year with 19 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles.
Hairston was also a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2023.
Should he hear his name called on Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, Hairston would join 16 other former Wildcats as the only first-round Kentucky draft picks. He’d also be the first defensive back taken in the opening round in Kentucky history.
Related: Kentucky fans, the NFL Draft is a lucrative time to get started in sports betting. New users can grab this DraftKings Kentucky promo code for a sign-up bonus.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
