Entering the draft, Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst was one of the most-highly touted mid-major prospects. He was ultimately selected in the third round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Steve Smith Sr., the eighth-leading receiver in NFL History, had major praise for Hurst, comparing him to one of the greatest pass-catchers of all-time.
"He has the ability and shows flashes of a faster Larry Fitzgerald," Smith said. "He catches the ball like him, gets in space, and adjusts to the ball so well.
While this is certainly a lofty comparison, Smith has a strong track record on evaluating wide receivers, notoriously endorsing future Triple Crown receiver Cooper Kupp as the best overall receiver in his class, regardless of his draft standing.
Smith went on to say that Hurst possesses the rare ability to make mid-route adjustments despite going full-speed, referring to some of his catches on tape as "Fitz catches."
Later in the show, Smith even predicted the Bucs as a potential landing spot for Hurst.
"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would benefit from a kid just like this," Smith said.
James Palmer, Smith's co-host, said he agreed with Smith's take, but doubted that Hurst would be there when Tampa decided to address wide receiver.
Of course, it worked out, as Hurst added to a series of value draft picks that the Bucs made throughout the night.
Hurst was one of the most consistent receivers in college football over the past two seasons, recording 127 receptions for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns.
In our Buccaneers draft profile on Hurst, Roundtable's Jeremy Ballreich outlined what makes Hurst so effective.
"Patient off the line, deceptive in his pacing, and sharp at the top of his stems,” Ballreich wrote. “He understands how to manipulate leverage, set up defenders, and create separation without wasted motion. His footwork is crisp, and he consistently wins with timing and precision."
Hurst has a great combination of size and speed, meshing a 6-foot-4, 206-pound frame with 4.42-40 speed.
The First-Team All-Sun Belt performer began his career at Valdosta State, where he was in and out of the starting lineup. However, he made the most of his two seasons at the Division I level, and now steps into a fortunate situation with Tampa Bay.
Following the departure of Mike Evans, the Bucs are left without a big, physical red zone threat receiver for the first time in over a decade.
While Hurst has a long way to go to draw comparisons to Evans, he may play a similar role, serving as a goal line fade route threat that can capitalize on smaller players in the secondary.
Hurst adds to an already dangerous wide receiver core that continues to get younger with key contributors like Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson.
Veteran receiver Chris Godwin Jr. will also be an experienced presence for Hurst to lean on as he enters his rookie campaign.
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