The Cleveland Browns had one of the worst receiver groups in the NFL last season. They ranked #31. Yeah. That.
WR Jerry Jeudy went from a Pro Bowler with 1,229 yards to a guy who barely broke 600 yards this past year. Two touchdowns. And it wasn’t like they didn’t throw him the ball. He had 106 targets.
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At this year’s Senior Bowl, there were several receivers who had a great practice week and improved their draft status. WR Ted Hurst of Georgia State was one of the best
receivers from the practice week.
Don’t know the name? You aren’t alone. Many of the media scrambled to find out who this guy was. To be factual, where is Georgia State while you are doing the research?
Hurst has good height and runs a 4.48 in the 40. He grew up in Savannah, Georgia, and was named All-Region in high school. He accepted an offer from nearby Valdosta State University, where he played for two years with stats of 60 receptions for 1,027 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.
He went into the transfer portal and transferred to Georgia State University, located in Atlanta. He became WR1 for the next two years. As a junior, he had 961 yards on 56 catches with nine TDs and was voted Second Team All-Sunbelt Conference. In his senior campaign, he caught 71 balls for 1,004 yards and six TDs. He was named First Team All-Sunbelt Conference.
So, that’s the skinny. A lot of small school guys end up in college All-Star games, and that just may be Hurst’s story. The journey continued with Hurst, who had a very good week in Mobile, which will elevate his stock. Hurst came into this game as a Day 3 selection, and now would not surprise anyone to hear his name called in the bottom of Round 3.
This is a guy who is always a fan favorite and is very approachable. He is a sleeper who could become a Number 1 option for Cleveland’s offense.
Dawgs by Nature staff writer Barry Shuck was at the Senior Bowl this week. He interviewed Hurst during the practice week, as it is clear that Cleveland will need some new blood in the receiver room going forward.
WR Ted Hurst (6’-3”, 195 pounds)
Georgia State
Projection: Round 3
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Shuck: You seemed very comfortable in the 1-on-1 drills against some really good defensive backs. Your thoughts?
Hurst: I work on my route running all the time. I like to showcase my talent when everybody has their eyes on me. I come from a small school that wasn’t on national TV every week, so I have to show my skills. There is talent everywhere, and just because you start off somewhere else other than a big school, it’s about how you conduct yourself. The biggest difference is the size of the linemen.
Shuck: What have you been doing to get you ready for the Combine?
Hurst: I am down in Ft. Lauderdale at XP Training. They are doing an amazing job of getting me bigger, stronger, and faster. One of my skills is that I get moving right off the snap. I want to be able to push my vertical speed. That will help late in the game and help me sell my route.
Shuck: What will NFL coaches and scouts be saying about you when they leave the Senior Bowl?
Hurst: That I am a valuable asset for the offense. I come from a solid football program and want to compete. I am versatile and can play either side or on special teams. I am tough and I am a gamer and will do my job.
Shuck: You have had some pretty big games with huge numbers. Do you have a set number of catches that you want to achieve each game?
Hurst: Honestly, I am not so much even worried about the game like that. Winning the game is why I am on the field, and if I can block for somebody else who gets the numbers, then I am okay with that. I just contribute my part. Being able to celebrate with the guys is fun. Having my family come see me play and support me is more important to me than a bunch of numbers.
Shuck: One thing that really stands out is how you fight for the ball.
Hurst: That’s like a big impact on my game, being a deep threat. Some are contested, and some aren’t. I work on that all the time with another body on me and getting the feel of any body pressing against you or getting his hand in my face or trying to lock out one of my arms. So, for me, that type of play is routine. Any opportunity I get, I have to make that play. Sometimes it looks like I am struggling to get open with a defender all over me, but I have run those drills so much it just feels like a natural route, then go up and get the ball. Everything starts in practice. Everything you do in practice is going to correlate to the game.
Shuck: Here at the Senior Bowl, there are a lot of helmets representing the SEC and the Big-10. Are you here to prove you belong with players from those bigger conferences?
Hurst: Everyone puts on their pads the same way. It really isn’t too much of a difference to me. There is more speed here, and the defensive backs are harder to fool. But with my route running, they get their cleats stuck in the turf just like I have seen for years. I am a great route runner and know how to get open and create separation, no matter what logo is on the helmet.
Shuck: You grew up in Savannah, Georgia, then went to Valdosta State, and finally Georgia State. How do you handle the idea that you might end up in a cold environment?
Hurst: We have played games in some pretty cold places before. Old Dominion is in Virginia. My first year, we played at UConn. I just went back to work. Start with finding out from other players that I know who end up at northern colleges what to wear during games. And we have a lot of players on our team from everywhere in places that get really cold. A lot of NFL teams that play in cold weather don’t have indoor stadiums, but their practice facilities are. I hear of a lot of NFL veterans who grew up in the South and then played in the cold. They learned how to cope, and so will I. I am not saying that the first season won’t be easy. Extreme cold is a lot different than extreme heat.
Shuck: You possess excellent ball tracking. How did you develop this skill?
Hurst: I feel like when the ball is 50-50, it’s mine. I want to be a great playmaker who can catch and stretch the field. My game is a big-bodied receiver and can definitely run routes. I want to step into that field and be like a guy who has 10 years of experience. I want to further my IQ and my knowledge of the game all around.
