Bucs WR Ted Hurst Focusing On Contributing Right Away

Bucs WR Ted Hurst Focusing On Contributing Right Away

Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst spoke to the media following the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rookie minicamp, where he talked about his desire to play as soon as possible.

"I've been diving into the playbook really hard," Hurst said Saturday. "You know, looking over it at night, you know, getting that install, you know, trying to perfect that, because that's a key aspect to you getting on the field and playing. I want to play early."

Entering the draft, Hurst was one of the most intriguing mid-major prospects in the class, recording 127 receptions for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns over his last two seasons.

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."

While the Bucs haven't frequently used an X receiver, Hurst says that new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has been working with the mid-major standout in that line of scrimmage position.

Tampa Bay has had success with drafting receivers over the past few seasons, selecting Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson last draft, while adding Jalen McMillan the year prior.

Each of these three receivers made huge impacts in their rookie seasons, which Hurst says is inspiring for what he can do in this system.

"That's definitely motivation for me," Hurst said. "You know, seeing a younger guy come in and, you know, step into that role and be a professional, also, cause an impact on the game early. Yeah, that's motivation for me."

Even before being drafted, NFL great Steve Smith Sr. gave the 6-foot-4, 206-pound wideout a lofty comparison.

"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.