The 2026 Panini Senior Bowl officially kicked off on Tuesday with a pair of practice sessions. A number of pass-catchers dominated the opening National Team session. Continuing that theme for the American Team evening practice was Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst.
Hurst arrived in Mobile as one of the more hyped-up small-schoolers in attendance. The Panthers standout immediately took advantage of his opportunity. Hurst made plays throughout Tuesday's practice that prove he belongs among the bigger-school elites.
The conversational rep in question saw Hurst climb the ladder to make an unbelievable one-handed grab on a go ball to the end zone. It was an impressive rep with Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal in coverage.
Georgia St. WR Ted Hurst with the Catch of the Day pic.twitter.com/10kAcaeo0E
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) January 27, 2026
Questions rang about the overall depth of this year's pass-catching crop in Mobile. The lack of an obvious candidate set to outshine his rival receivers has created an even more competitive environment. With room to improve his pre-draft stock and reputation, Hurst was an early standout.
Hurst initially won the weigh-in process. The Savannah, Georgia native clocked in at 6-foot-3 and a slightly lean 207 pounds. Hurst has X-receiver prototype size with a clear skill set designed to thrive on the boundary.
Once it began time to transition from the weigh-in to the practice field, Hurst swiftly proved that size translates to tangible skills. The viral one-handed grab over Neal highlighted a release package that creates separation and the vertical traits needed to stretch the field. Hurst is more developed in certain areas of his game compared to prospects who competed at bigger programs.
There's certainly no questioning Hurst's productivity. The big-bodied boundary wideout registered 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. Hurst had a career-high nine touchdowns and 961 yards in 2024, narrowly missing out on back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Prior to transferring to Georgia State in 2024, Hurst played two campaigns (2022-23) at Valdosta State. He averaged nearly 20 yards per catch in 2022 and had 596 receiving yards in 2023. Hurst then went from the D-II ranks to strive for higher heights in the FBS. His journey and yearly improvement have been admirable.
Hurst possesses crisp footwork and utilizes initial burst to place immediate stress on cornerbacks. Hurst is a long strider with the take-the-top-off ability needed to generate occasional explosives. He creates separation through getting in and out of breaks efficiently, but is also proven to be a contested-catch winner when necessary.
Scouts were eager to see Georgia State's Hurst test his abilities against so-called bigger-school prospects. It was a resounding success throughout the American Team's debut practice. Hurst is en route to leaving the Senior Bowl as a solidified top-100 overall prospect.
