Hairston earns two national defensive honors after record-setting performance in Nashville

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WYMT) - The recognition keeps on rolling in for Kentucky defensive back Maxwell Hairston.

Hairston added two national, weekly honors to his name on Tuesday, following his record-setting performance against Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Football Writers Association of America awarded the sophomore the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor earlier Tuesday afternoon.

Hairston was also named as the Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week, announced by the National College Football Awards Association on Tuesday as well.

Both of these national honors follow Hairston’s SEC Defensive Player of the Week award that he was named to on Monday. Hairston earned all three of these honors for his record-breaking game against Vanderbilt over the weekend. The sophomore became the first Wildcat to record a pair of pick-6s in one game, setting a new school record and tying an SEC record.

In the game, Hairston recorded four tackles, three pass breakups and two interceptions for 83 yards. Hairston’s efforts helped Kentucky to a 45-28 win over Vanderbilt.

The FWAA selects a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week each week during the regular season, and every honored player is added to the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 15 and from those selections, a national defensive player of the year will be honored with a trophy on Dec. 4.

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