{"id":289143,"date":"2026-06-24T09:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T13:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=289143"},"modified":"2026-06-24T05:46:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T09:46:16","slug":"bucs-rookie-receiver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/06\/24\/bucs-rookie-receiver\/","title":{"rendered":"This Rookie Receiver Could Be a Secret Weapon for the Bucs Offense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tampa Bay rookie receiver Ted Hurst<\/a> has received rave reviews since arriving at One Buc Place. Could Hurst be a hidden gem who provides a jolt to the Buccaneers\u2019 offense in 2026?<\/p>\n

This Rookie Receiver Could Be a Secret Weapon for the Bucs Offense<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Among a Buccaneers draft class that saw multiple high-profile defenders selected, Tampa Bay quietly used the No. 84 pick in the third round to take a receiver from the Sun Belt Conference.<\/p>\n

That pick was rookie receiver Ted Hurst, and if early returns from OTAs and minicamp are any indication, Hurst could be a lethal weapon for the Bucs offense this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe smoke is real. There is fire underneath that smoke,\u201d former Buccaneers cornerback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronde Barber said on his show this week<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s been impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s high praise from one of the franchise\u2019s greatest players before Hurst has even taken an NFL snap.<\/p>\n

Why Hurst Can Succeed at the NFL Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s good reason to believe Hurst is poised to succeed at the NFL level.<\/p>\n

Hurst\u2019s measurables are impressive. He is 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds with an impressive wingspan. His broad jump at the NFL Scouting Combine was 11 feet, 3 inches, the best mark at the combine.<\/a> Hurst also ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, ranking in the 80th percentile among wide receivers.<\/p>\n

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\u201cYou\u2019ve got a 6-foot-4, super-fast, incredible ball-skill guy down the field. There\u2019s been some great players that have those assets,\u201d Bucs general manager Jason Licht said on the radio after Hurst was drafted.<\/p>\n

Hurst received even more praise from former All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. after he was drafted.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has the ability and shows flashes of a faster Larry Fitzgerald. He catches the ball like him, gets in space and adjusts to the ball so well,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

While his measurables are impressive, Hurst\u2019s production during his time at Georgia State might outdo them. He recorded 1,965 receiving yards and 15 touchdown catches in two seasons with the Panthers. That production came after Hurst played at the Division II level with Valdosta State during his freshman and sophomore seasons.<\/p>\n

Last year, during his senior season, Hurst recorded 1,004 receiving yards, earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors. He had eight games with 70 or more receiving yards.<\/p>\n

Hurst also decided to stay at Georgia State after posting 961 receiving yards and nine touchdowns during his junior season in 2024. He briefly entered the transfer portal and was pursued by Power Four programs before deciding to return to Georgia State for his senior season \u2014 the type of decision that is unusual in the era of NIL and the transfer portal.<\/p>\n

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Can confirm via sources that Ted Hurst plans to stay at Georgia State. He\u2019d been one of @max_olson<\/a> top portal players. A rare win in modern college football for a top G5 player to stick around. ON3 first reported Hurst decision. https:\/\/t.co\/EPYKscC8ZP<\/a><\/p>\n

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n