Maxwell Hairston, bottom, makes a tackle versus Texas.
UK Athletics
MOBILE, Al. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Former Kentucky football players Maxwell Hairston and Deone Walker are hard at work practicing for the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Saturday February 1.
This year is the seventh in a row that UK has had a Wildcat taking part in the NFL showcase game.
1 p.m. is the kickoff time inside Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama for the bowl game on NFL Network.
Hairston’s Hopes for the Pros
After 32 games in blue and white, Hairston announced he would forgo his senior season and declared for the NFL Draft.
The lockdown cornerback registered 89 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, 10 pass breakups, six interceptions and three forced fumbles during his Kentucky career.
Despite missing five games this past season, Maxwell earned Second Team All-SEC honors by The Associated Press.
Perhaps his biggest moment for the Wildcats came against Vanderbilt in 2024 when he had two interceptions returned touchdowns, tying an SEC single-game record.
The Michigan native was named National Defensive Player of the Week and National Defensive Back of the Week for that game.
Walker’s Way to the League
The massive defensive lineman from Detroit declared for this year’s draft after this past season ended.
He was three year player for Kentucky and started in every game but one.
Deone’s defensive statistics after he ended his college career include 132 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, six pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Hairston’s fellow Michiganer was a Second Team All-SEC selection by the AP and was a Third Team All-SEC choice by the league’s coaches and Phil Steele.
Cats in the Senior Bowl
Both players will be coached by Cleveland Browns’ Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone on the American team.
Since 1950, UK has had 54 players participate in the showcase.
In the Mark Stoops era, from 2013 to present, 22 former players have taken part.
