ATLANTA — Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst has been selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the league announced Friday evening.
Selected as the No. 84 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Hurst becomes the highest draft pick in Georgia State history. He joins four Panthers to be selected in the NFL Draft, most recently Travis Glover, who was picked by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round in 2024.
A two-time All-Sun Belt Conference honoree, Hurst was also the first Georgia State football player to be named to The College Freaks List by The Athletic.
Hurst capped his collegiate career with a standout 2025 season, earning First-Team All-Sun Belt honors after leading the Panthers with 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns. He recorded a season-long 70-yard reception against South Alabama and posted one of the top single-game performances in program history with 172 receiving yards against Murray State. In that same game, he tied a career high with 10 receptions and two touchdowns.
Following the 2025 season, Hurst ranked among the nation's top receivers, finishing 12th nationally in total receiving yards, 16th in receiving yards per game and 15th in receptions per game, while placing among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in each category.
In just two seasons at Georgia State, Hurst etched his name throughout the program record book. He finished his career ranked fourth in receiving yards (1,965), receptions per catch (15.5), touchdowns (15) and 100-yard games (eight), while ranking fifth in total receptions (127). He also holds the No. 2 spot in program history for single-season receptions and set the school record for single-season receiving touchdowns.
During his 2024 debut season with the Panthers, Hurst earned Second-Team All-Sun Belt honors after leading the team with 56 receptions for 961 yards and a program-record nine touchdowns. He delivered a signature moment against Vanderbilt, hauling in two touchdown passes, including the game-winning score with 15 seconds remaining.
Hurst's list of accolades includes an invitation to the 2025 Senior Bowl, First-Team All-Sun Belt recognition from multiple organizations, preseason All-America honors and inclusion on the Biletnikoff Award watch list.
With his selection, Hurst becomes the latest Georgia State standout to advance to the professional level, continuing the program's upward trajectory on the national stage.
