South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst was widely regarded the best at his position in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the first tight end off the board on Thursday night, picked No. 25 overall by the Baltimore Ravens.

Hurst’s first round selection makes him the first first round pick for the program since Jadeveon Clowney went No. 1 overall in 2014.

Entering the 2018 NFL Draft, South Carolina had produced 12 first-round draft picks all-time, with seven coming since 2000:

Jadeveon Clowney – 2014/1st overall (Texans)

Stephon Gilmore – 2012/ 10th overall (Bills)

Melvin Ingram – 2012/18th overall (Chargers)

Johnathan Joseph – 2006/24th overall (Bengals)

Troy Williamson – 2005/7th overall (Vikings)

Dunta Robinson – 2004/10th overall (Texans)

John Abraham – 2000/13th overall (Jets)

Ernest Dye – 1993/18th overall (Cardinals)

Sterling Sharpe – 1988/7th overall (Packers)

George Rogers – 1981/1st overall (Saints)

Willie Scott – 1981/14th overall (Chiefs)

Rick Sanford – 1979/25th overall (Patriots)

Picked 25th overall, Hurst also becomes the highest drafted Gamecock since offensive guard A.J. Cann was selected No. 67 overall in 2015. Hurst is the fifth Gamecocks tight end drafted since 2009. Two of them – Jared Cook and Jerell Adams – are still in the league.

A former professional baseball player who gave up his pitching career to pursue collegiate football, Hurst walked on to South Carolina’s football team in 2015, used as a tight end and wide receiver in head coach Steve Spurrier’s final season and Shawn Elliott’s interim season.

He became a full-time tight end in 2016 under the direction of current head coach Will Muschamp and his staff. In two seasons Hurst is the program’s all-time leader in receptions by a tight end (100) and left the program in second place for receiving yards by a tight end (1,281).

He became the first sophomore in program history to be named a team captain in 2016 and followed it up in 2017 with another team captain honor. Measured at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Hurst put up junior numbers in 2017 of 44 receptions, 559 yards, and three touchdowns (one rushing) that led to a First-Team All-SEC selection. He was a semifinalist for both the Mackey Award (top tight end) and Bulsworth Trophy (top walk-on).

Hurst was not recruited by Muschamp, but he was coached and developed under him. He becomes Muschamp’s 16th first round draft pick and the only one to start his career as a walk-on. He is also the first Gamecock drafted in Muschamp’s tenure in Columbia.

Not a VIP Member? Try us FREE for 7 Days! | Sign up for our FREE newsletter!