Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hariston was selected with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.

From the fields of West Bloomfield, Michigan to the SEC spotlight, Hairston turned his three-star roots into a ball-hawking legacy at Kentucky, now poised for an NFL leap.

Born to Robin and Marvia Hairston, Max grew up alongside siblings Alexandria, Madison, and Marvin, in a family of athletes—his cousins Jaylin Bannerman.

played football at UK for two seasons. Lyndsey Hairston reached the NBA, while Taiwan Jones played for the New York Jets.

A multi-sport talent who lettered in track and basketball at West Bloomfield High. He picked Kentucky over offers from Arkansas, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and others.

Hairston, a three-year letterwinner and 2024 team captain, started 20 of 32 career games for the Wildcats, earning Second Team All-SEC honors in 2023 after leading the SEC with five interceptions, including two pick-sixes against Vanderbilt.

His defining moment came in that Vanderbilt win, with a 54-yard interception return for a touchdown to seal the game.

The Michigan native totaled 89 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He added an additional 10 pass breakups, six interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

Hairston tied the school record – also owned by Dallas Owens (1974-77) – for most career interceptions returned for touchdowns with three.

At the NFL Combine, Hairston’s 4.28 40-yard dash earned him a 6.42 grade, projecting him as a late first-rounder. Now, he aims to bolster the Bills secondary in the next step of his career.