Maxwell Hairston on Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List
Junior Maxwell Hairston has been named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced Wednesday. The list includes 42 of the nation’s top defensive backs.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors.
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.
The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players based on previous performance in NCAA Division I college football and preseason All-America lists. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.
Semifinalists will be announced Tuesday, Oct. 29.
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.
