Hairston becomes the first defensive back to be chosen in the opening round of the NFL Draft in school history and the 19th player chosen in the first round. He’s the fourth first-rounder under head coach Mark Stoops.
Hairston, a 6-foot-1, 186-pounder of West Bloomfield, Michigan, was a three-year letter winner and two-year starter for the Wildcats, playing in 32 career games with 20 starting assignments. He totaled 89 career tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, with one sack and added 10 pass breakups, six interceptions and three forced fumbles. Three of his six interceptions were pick-sixes, which tied the school record – also owned by Dallas Owens (1974-77) – for most career interceptions returned for touchdowns.
In 2024, although hampered with an injury that caused him to miss five games, Hairston earned Second Team All-Southeastern Conference accolades by The Associated Press after totaling 19 tackles, a tackle for loss, two forced fumbles, a sack, an interception (returned for a touchdown), and four pass breakups.
He 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.
Hairston graduated with a degree in community leadership and development in December 2024.
Rounds 2-3 will continue Friday, April 25 at 6 p.m. ET and Rounds 4-7 are Saturday, April 26 at noon ET in Green Bay, Wisconsin. All rounds will be covered on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes (Spanish).