Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst addressed the media after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookie minicamp, expressing his determination to see the field as soon as possible.
“I’ve been immersing myself in the playbook,” Hurst said on Saturday. “I go through it at night, work on the installs, and try to master that because it’s crucial to getting onto the field and playing. I want to contribute early.”
Heading into the draft, Hurst stood out as one of the most compelling mid-major prospects in his class. Over his final two collegiate seasons, he hauled in 127 catches for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns.
In our Buccaneers draft breakdown of Hurst, Roundtable’s Jeremy Ballreich highlighted what makes him effective.
“Patient at the line, deceptive with his tempo, and sharp on his break points,” Ballreich wrote. “He knows how to manipulate leverage, set up defenders, and create separation without wasted movement. His footwork is clean, and he consistently wins with timing and precision.”
Although the Bucs have rarely utilized an X receiver, Hurst noted that new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has been coaching him in that role at the line of scrimmage.
Tampa Bay has enjoyed success drafting wideouts in recent seasons, selecting Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson last year and adding Jalen McMillan the year before. All three made significant contributions as rookies, which Hurst finds motivating.
“That definitely fuels me,” Hurst said. “Seeing a young guy come in, step into that role, act like a professional, and make an early impact on the game—that’s motivation for me.”
Even before the draft, NFL legend Steve Smith Sr. drew a bold comparison for the 6-foot-4, 206-pound receiver.
“He shows flashes of a faster Larry Fitzgerald,” Smith said. “He catches the ball like him, gets into space, and adjusts to the ball exceptionally well.”
Smith has a strong track record of evaluating wideouts, famously touting future Triple Crown winner Cooper Kupp as the best receiver in his class regardless of draft position. Like Kupp, Hurst was lightly recruited and came from a non-major program, but he believes he has something to prove at the NFL level.
“A lot of people doubt my potential and where I can go in this profession,” Hurst said. “But I have that conversation with myself, and it just adds fuel to my fire.”
With Buccaneers legend Mike Evans departing, Hurst now stands as Tampa’s most physically imposing receiver. He is poised to become Baker Mayfield’s new go-to target on goal-line fades and one-on-one deep balls.
