If you give him even a little bit of space, Ted Hurst has a great chance of making an explosive play.
The Georgia State wide receiver was split out wide to the left against James Madison last season, and GSU had the ball on its own 27-yard line in the first quarter. A JMU defender was lined up a few yards away from the line of scrimmage, too much distance for Hurst.
He started his route so quickly that the defender across from him started moving back. But Hurst was running a hitch route. He suddenly stopped, which gave GSU’s quarterback enough time to deliver a pass. The ball arrived just before the JMU defender did. Hurst caught the ball, spun away from a hit, and relied on his speed to zoom up the sideline before he was pushed out of bounds at the opposing 20-yard line.
Even against JMU, which had one of the best defenses in the Group of Six last year, Hurst made his presence known.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Where Did Ted Hurst Go In The NFL Draft?
Hurst went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 83rd overall pick, in the third round, of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Ted Hurst’s 40 Time & NFL Combine Results
Hurst ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds, which ranked 18th out of 34 wide receivers who participated in that drill at the NFL Combine. He also recorded a broad jump of 11 feet, 3 inches, which was first among 25 wideouts, and a vertical jump of 36.5 inches, which was 16th among 30 at his position group.
Hurst was measured at 6 feet, 4 inches and 206 pounds at the NFL Combine.
Ted Hurst Stats & Highlights
Hurst was among the most productive wide receivers in the country last year. The fact that Georgia State was bad last year, going 1-11 overall, makes it even more impressive. Georgia State was often trying to play catch-up, teams knew the ball was going Hurst’s way, and they still couldn’t significantly slow him down.
Hurst was at Georgia State for just two seasons, but he’s fourth in the school’s all-time record books for receiving yards (1,965) and receiving touchdowns (15) as well as fifth for receptions (127).
Hurst was in the top 25 in the FBS for receptions (71) and receiving yards (1,004) while scoring six touchdowns through the air. All of those numbers were top 10 in Georgia State single-season history, with his number of catches ranking No. 2 and yards ranking No. 5.
He was a first-team All-Sun Belt wideout after earning second-team all-conference accolades in 2024. As a junior, Hurst caught nine touchdowns, a single-season school record, on 56 receptions with 961 yards.
Where Is Ted Hurst From?
Hurst is from Savannah, Georgia. He went to Johnson High School before starting his collegiate career at Valdosta State, where he spent two seasons.
Ted Hurst NFL Draft Profile & Comparison
My NFL comparison for Ted Hurst is Mike Evans, which is something Bucs fans will be thrilled to hear. Hurst is a tall receiver who knows how to use that to his advantage but can also win thanks to his athleticism.
The explosiveness Hurst showed with his broad jump at the NFL Combine was evident on tape. He can use his size to win 50-50 balls, but he can also outrun defenders in the open field.
Hurst is a smart player as well. He knows how to find open areas in a defense.
Hurst is quick, but he’s also fluid. He always seems in control.
Hurst’s production despite Georgia State’s struggles especially impresses me. He kept showing up and continued to make highlight plays even when the Panthers weren’t winning during his time at GSU.
Hurst is a fascinating NFL prospect, and I think he’ll adapt to the pro level well.
