Standout defensive performer for Kentucky football named to preseason Jim Thorpe Award Watch List

Another day, another Kentucky football standout landing on a preseason watch list.

Maxwell Hairston was among the selections for the preseason Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, announced on Wednesday. The Jim Thorpe Award is given to the nation's top defensive back.

Hairston was also an All-SEC First-Team selection earlier this month at SEC Media Day and was among the honorees to land on the Nagurski Trophy Watch List.

Hairston has been one of the top defensive backs in the country for much of his Kentucky career -- but not many players had a better year statistically than he did in 2023.

He ranked fifth in the country with five interceptions -- also the fifth-most in Kentucky football history. Additionally, he also had eight passes defended which ranked eigth in the SEC.

Hairston was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, the Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week and the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after tying an SEC record and setting a school record with two pass interception returns for touchdowns.

He added 68 tackles on the season as well -- leading to a Second-Team All-SEC honor.

Hairston joins defensive lineman Deone Walker as two Kentucky standouts to land on more than one preseason award watch list.

The Kentucky defense has the players to be among the most talented in the league in 2024. Time will tell if it lives up to some of that potential and talent.