Ted Hurst

Summary

Ted Hurst (22 years old) is a wide receiver who played two season at Valdosta State in 2022-2023 before transferring to Georgia State before the 2024 season. In 2025, Hurst started throughout the season and recorded 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and 6 touchdowns, becoming one of only four receivers in Panthers program history to eclipse a 1,000 yard season and earning him First Team All-Sun Belt selection. Hurst has been an exceptional student in the classroom earning Dean’s List honors for Spring and Fall 2025, two-time Student-Athlete of the Week, as well as being named to the SBC Academic Honor Roll in both his years at Georgia State. Hurst is a self-made player, ascending from being a zero-star recruit with no college offers and his brother used to have to call college programs on his behalf to get scouts to watch his high school tape. Hurst is now widely viewed as a disciplined, team-first player whose consistency in practice and attention to detail have drawn praise from coaches and has become the first-ever Georgia State athlete to be named to Bruce Feldman’s “College Freaks List.” His teammates frequently highlight his route discipline and willingness to contribute as a blocker as indicators of his overall football character. From an injury standpoint, Hurst has been largely durable throughout his career, with no major injuries causing extended absences, reinforcing his reliability as a starting-caliber receiver.

Strengths

• Senior Bowl Darling: Arguably had the best showing of any WR in Mobile this year. Wins on slants, outs, and quick game with efficient footwork and timing rather than pure speed. Despite his tall frame, can be moved around to create free releases and favorable matchups.

• Box Spring: Routinely uses his body to box out defenders in the area, leaning on his background as a standout basketball player in high school. Consistently secures routine throws and doesn’t fight the ball, allowing for a QB-friendly target on rhythm concepts.

• All Gas No Breaks: Transitions quickly upfield and maximizes what’s available without dancing. Will finish runs and fall forward rather than going down on first contact.

• Pace Car: Doesn’t rush routes and shows a nice feel for when to throttle down and present a target for a D2 prospect. Understands how to attack cushion and get into his route without wasted movement.

Weaknesses

• Two’s a Crowd: When DBs crowd him early, he doesn’t consistently create space without a clean release. Relies on timing and alignment more than hand usage or foot-fire variation and press corners can disrupt him.

• Deep Win Consistency: Outstanding timed speed and threatens initially, but doesn’t consistently pull away or stack defenders downfield on film. Despite his big frame, radius, and basketball experience, doesn’t dominantly utilize his play strength or size to finish contested catches (2.97/5.00 Contested Score).

• Rounded Breaks: When forced to accelerate or adjust mid-route in traffic or under pressure, his cuts lose sharpness and DBs stay attached.

• Level of Competition: It’s a big jump from Georgia State to the NFL, but Hurst’s strong performances on the same field as many of the best in the country in Mobile can help assuage some of those fears.

Outlook

Hurst projects as a smooth, reliable pass catcher with good size, incendiary speed, strong hands, and the body control to win along the boundary, giving him upside as a possession receiver who can contribute across multiple alignments. He fits best in timing-based and spread offenses that emphasize intermediate routes, play-action crossers, and leveraging size against defensive backs rather than relying solely on elite vertical speed. Hurst is considered by most as a Day 3 prospect but don’t be floored if you hear his name called at the tail end of Day 2 for a creative play caller who wants a bigger receiver in a structured passing game to develop into an eventual starter.

Pro Comparison: Robert Meachem

Team Fits: GB, NO, PIT, MIA, ATL