Two Wildcat Defenders on Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List
Two University of Kentucky defenders, junior defensive back Maxwell Hairston and junior defensive lineman Deone Walker, have been named to the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America and Charlotte Touchdown Club announced Tuesday. The list includes 75 Division I FBS defensive standouts.
Hairston, a 6-foot-1, 186-pounder from Detroit, totaled five interceptions in 2023, including four in SEC action, and ranked fifth in the nation in that category. His five interceptions tied for fifth-most interceptions in a single season in program history, the most since Sam Maxwell in 2009 (six). He totaled 131 interception return yards, the most since Greg Long had 176 return yards in 1981.
The Wildcat had two interceptions alone at Vanderbilt, returning both for touchdowns, tying an SEC single-game record. He was named National Defensive Player of the Week and National Defensive Back of the Week for that game.
Along with his league-high five takeaways, Hairston ranked eighth in the SEC in passes defended in 2023 with 11.
Hairston is on track to graduate in December of ’24 with a degree in community leadership and development.
Walker, a 6-foot-6, 348-pound native of Detroit, is coming off a sensational sophomore season in 2023. Despite battling frequent double teams, he led the Blue and White in tackles for loss (12.5), quarterback sacks (7.5) and quarterback hurries (8). He also added two pass breakups, including one in Kentucky’s win over Florida on Sept. 30, which was intercepted by UK and returned to the UF 15-yard line that led to an eventual touchdown.
The Wildcat was named one of seven permanent team captains last season, as he went on to start all 13 games. In fact, he improved his streak of 24 straight starts, a stretch dating back to his freshman season in 2022. Walker, who also was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurksi and Outland Trophy Watch Lists in 2023, set or tied single-game career highs in every category last season, including recording nine tackles at South Carolina, 4.0 tackles for loss (-7 yards) at Missouri, 1.0 sacks (-6 yards) last at South Carolina, one pass breakup last at Georgia and two quarterback hurries against EKU.
Walker is majoring in communication and is on track to graduate in December of ‘25.
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from the five finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fam
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2024 trophy on Nov. 20 and the winner will be unveiled December 9 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte.
Season tickets, mini-packs and single-game tickets for Kentucky’s games vs. Southern Miss, South Carolina, Ohio, Vanderbilt and Murray State are now on sale at ukfootballtix.com.
Based on availability, tickets for the eagerly anticipated home matchups vs. Georgia, Auburn and Louisville will go on sale to the public beginning Friday, Aug. 9 at 9 a.m. ET.
With strong demand continuing for all ticket options, inventory for Kentucky’s SEC and nonconference rivalry games is expected to be extremely limited, and there is no guarantee that tickets will be available on Aug. 9. Fans are encouraged to consider season ticket options to secure tickets for those games.
