2018 NFL Draft: Hayden Hurst’s athleticism makes him perfect fit for NFL

South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst has a widespread bank of athleticism and versatility that will bode well in the NFL. Where will he go in the 2018 NFL Draft?

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One of the more consistent tight ends in all of college football, South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst almost took a completely different route as he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates back in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.

Hurst spend two years trying to advance his baseball career before deciding to give football another try at South Carolina, where he entered the program as a walk-on. As a freshman in 2015, Hurst recorded snaps in just five games, with just eight catches and zero touchdowns on the year.

His sophomore year is when he really broke out. Playing in all 13 games, he hauled in 48 catches for over 600 yards and a touchdown. As a junior, he maintained his consistent play despite being a main focus of opposing defenses, pulling in 44 catches and three touchdowns.

Strengths

Hurst’s consistency over the past two seasons makes him an attractive target for NFL teams. He is very poised and methodical in his playmaking, but also holds great quickness and speed for his size. Hurst also sits as a threat in all facets of the passing game as he can turn a small gain into a big play, or grab a vertical pass down the field.

His great route running ability, paired with his size, makes him a difficult matchup for opposing defenses. If a corner is put on him, his size and athleticism will overcome the matchup, whereas if a linebacker is covering- he can use his speed to separate.

Weaknesses

Due to his baseball career, Hurst will enter the NFL as a 25-year old rookie. While this fact does not impact his play directly, it can be a turning point for some teams if they can find similar product at a younger age.

Hurst will also need to work on his interior blocking in the run game. While he has strength and an appropriate physique for the NFL, he has not blocked enough to translate to the NFL game as they are used a lot more on a professional level.

Next: Latest first-round post-Combine NFL Mock Draft

Draft Expectations

While there certainly are a lot of great tight ends in the 2018 class, it will be hard for teams to bypass another great pass-catcher with Hurst’s build. If more receivers and tight ends go in the first round than expected, Hurst could be a second-round option.

Projection: Third round