Ninth in an 11-part series. Coming tomorrow: Safeties. 

Maxwell Hairston knew that he was fast before he ran the quickest 40-yard dash time of any prospect at the 2025 NFL Combine. 

He knew before he clocked 24 mph during speed training last summer while competing against Kentucky teammate Barion Brown — arguably the fastest offensive player in college football. 

The soon-to-be NFL cornerback recognized his speed as far back as eighth grade, when he ran the second leg for a Michigan state-championship track relay team.