Ted Hurst Scouting Report

Ted Hurst is a big-bodied receiver who can dominate in contested catch situations at the catch point with surprising quickness to create separation.

Draft Grade: Round 3 - Adequate Starter

Strengths:

Contested Catch Ability: Hurst excels in contested-catch situations, consistently tracking the football and winning vertically over defensive backs. He shows strong concentration at the catch point, securing the ball even with defenders in tight coverage. His wide catch radius gives quarterbacks confidence to target him in traffic, as most balls thrown in his vicinity present a legitimate opportunity for completion.

Frame/Size: At 6-foot-3 and more than 200 pounds, Hurst effectively leverages his size to gain advantages throughout the route. At the line of scrimmage, he can use his frame and strength to overpower cornerbacks and get into his route cleanly before accelerating vertically. On in-breaking routes, he uses his body well to shield defenders from the football. His build directly contributes to his catch radius and also makes him a challenging tackle after the catch.

Releases/Route Running: Hurst displays surprising quickness for a receiver of his size. He uses active feet and varied release tempos at the line of scrimmage to defeat press coverage. As a route runner, he shows the ability to sink his hips in and out of breaks and pairs that with a quick burst at the top of routes to create separation.

Concerns:

Top-End Speed: Hurst has enough acceleration and functional speed to create initial separation at the stem of routes and in the open field. However, sustaining that separation is a challenge, as defenders are often able to close the gap and make the tackle. On vertical routes in man coverage, defensive backs frequently remain in phase, forcing Hurst to rely on contested-catch ability rather than pure speed to finish plays downfield.

RAC/Balance: Despite possessing a big, powerful frame that suggests strong run-after-catch potential, Hurst does not consistently translate that size into broken tackles. At times, he shows limited contact balance, struggling to stay upright through contact and failing to consistently run through arm tackles. Improving balance and play strength through contact would allow him to better maximize his physical profile after the catch.