Kentucky football’s challenge vs. Ole Miss just got harder with Maxwell Hairston out
At full strength, slowing an Ole Miss offense that ranks at or near the top nationally in almost every statistical category looked like a daunting task for Kentucky on Saturday.
Now the Wildcats will face that task without their top cornerback.
Junior Maxwell Hairston, who tied the UK record with the third interception return for a touchdown in his career last week against Ohio, was listed as “out” on Friday’s availability report update.
The availability report, which the SEC began mandating before conference games this season, only lists a player’s designation and not the reason for his absence. Hairston was not listed on the initial report released Wednesday but was added as “questionable” in Thursday’s update.
Hairston also appeared on the availability report before UK’s last SEC game, when he was a game-time decision against Georgia due to a shoulder injury. Hairston played that game and last week against Ohio, so it is unclear if the shoulder is what is keeping him out of the Ole Miss game or if there is a new issue.
UK coach Mark Stoops spoke with reporters for the last time before the game after Thursday’s practice, just a few hours before Hairston was added to the public availability report, but did not volunteer any information about his star cornerback. Hairston tied for the SEC lead in interceptions (five) last season and was ranked as the No. 32 prospect in the 2025 NFL draft class by The Athletic in August.
Had he been available against Ole Miss, Hairston likely would have been called on to take the lion’s share of the assignment guarding Rebels receiver Tre Harris, who ranks second nationally in receiving yards per game (157). Ole Miss leads the country with 422.8 passing yards per game through four nonconference games.
With Hairston out, the pressure increases on UK cornerbacks JQ Hardaway, Jantzen Dunn, DJ Waller, Nasir Addison and Tehryon Nichols. Hardaway has started each of UK’s first four games opposite Hairston, totaling eight tackles and one interception. Waller, a highly touted transfer from Michigan who missed time in preseason camp with an injury, is listed as Hairston’s primary backup on UK’s depth chart, but Nichols, a freshman, has also seen his role increase in recent weeks.
“Work in progress,” Stoops said Monday when asked about the progress of UK’s cornerbacks outside of Hairston. ”I like their attitude. I like the way they’re working. As they see more reps, as they see more plays, they’ll grow even more.
“And this week will be a real challenge for them for sure. Not only with the pace and with the scheme, they have talented players and a quarterback that’s on fire, so we’ll definitely have our hands full.”
This story was originally published September 27, 2024 at 9:58 PM.