
AJ Hairston. {Top Shot Media}
Former Monarch High School quarterback A.J. Hairston had his breakout performance in college with the University of Massachusetts football team.
Despite starting the year as a backup, Hairston played four games, including tossing three touchdown passes against the University of Connecticut in their final game of the regular season. The freshman completed 13-21 passes for 134 yards and nine rushing yards.
Hairston made his college debut on November 2 against an SEC opponent in Mississippi State, tossing his first touchdown pass. After adding a rush score in the team’s second game against Liberty, Hairston led the Minutemen to an early lead against the University of Georgia.
Umass led 7-0 and trailed by only ten at halftime against the country’s seventh-ranked team. Hairston’s touchdown pass came on a 75-yard strike to Jakobie Keeney-James and finished the game with 121 passing yards. Hairston had a historic career at Monarch High School, Â throwing for 8,098 yards and 77 touchdowns while rushing for 769 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He was a three-time all-county selection and twice picked to the all-state team. Hairston will have four more years of eligibility as he looks to build on a strong freshman season following a pair of wins.
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