Overview

Position: CB

College: Kentucky

Class: Junior (RS)

Age: 21

 

Measurables

Height: 5’11 1/4”

Weight: 183 lbs.

Arm length: 31″

Hand size: 8 3/4″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 4.28 sec.

10-yard split: 1.50 sec.

Vertical jump: 39.5″

Broad jump: 129.0″

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Elite speed. Ideal length at his size. Tremendous overall quickness and movement skills. Very fluid in the side shuffle. Able to keep his eyes on the quarterback while getting depth. Ideal footwork out of the press. Keeps up and recovers versus downfield routes. Excellent recognition to pattern vertical routes. Outstanding timing to extend for deflections on high passes. Fast staying with deep crossing routes. Will get all over receivers without grabbing when the route reaches him from off coverage. Great patience with fluid hips and feet to mirror opponents as they sink into breaks. Good recovery quickness. Quick bursting ahead from the backpedal. Quick in general breaking down versus underneath routes. Very good play recognition as a zone defender in the flat. Impressive reaction time versus short out routes from off coverage. Excellent instincts to jump routes in underneath coverage. Terrific ball skills and production with six interceptions and three touchdowns over the past two seasons. Fills in to support versus the run and will make himself wide in the hole filling on the edge. Works to avoid engagement on the perimeter. Doesn’t back down from bigger blockers in space. Will hit with some thump if given the opportunity. Effective chopping down ball-carriers. Fast as a blitzer. Has experience at both left and right cornerback. Saw snaps lined up at safety.

 

Weaknesses

Thin overall build. Can be slower to play deeper out-breaking routes. Might flip his hips too early and be attackable with inside cuts after opening up to play vertical routes. Inconsistent switching off downfield matchups in matchup zone coverage. Could be more prepared to stick with receivers on broken plays. Caught flat footed and hit over the top for a touchdown on a fade by Missouri (2023). Will over pursue ball-carriers and be forced to make a lunging attempt. Had a bad missed tackle versus Georgia running back Trevor Etienne (2024).

 

NFL comparison

Cam Smith

 

Conclusion

Overall, Hairston is a fast, fluid cornerback with impressive quickness and playmaking instincts underneath. The best fit would be in a heavy zone defense where he can often have his eyes on the quarterback while patrolling on the perimeter.

 

Big Board ranking: #33 | Positional ranking: #5