Tight end Hayden Hurst announced on Thursday that following the Outback Bowl against Michigan, he will head to the NFL and skip his final year of eligibility at South Carolina.

Next season, Hurst would be the third South Carolina tight end in the NFL with Jared Cook and Jerell Adams both currently playing professional football. Of course, it’s still to be determined where he ends up, but several notable NFL Draft experts have given their take on where Hurst could find himself when selection time comes.

The most detailed recent scouting report comes from Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, who wrote this piece on Hurst on December 1.

South Carolina TE Hayden Hurst has come up several times in my discussions with NFL scouts during the fall. After studying his tape this week, it's easy to understand why so many evaluators have big grades on him. He has outstanding size (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) and speed (he's been timed in the low 4.6s in the 40-yard dash). He's primarily used as a flexed-out tight end or off the ball as the "move" tight end in the Gamecocks offense. He has outstanding play speed, showing the ability to consistently separate from linebackers and safeties. He also has a good understanding of working in zones and presenting a big target to the quarterback. Hurst tracks the ball naturally and he's shown the ability to attack the ball at the highest point. Hurst also offers tremendous upside. He played minor-league baseball for two years before walking on at South Carolina and is just scratching the surface of what he can become on the football field. Hurst is a junior, but he did walk out with the seniors during South Carolina's last home game and is expected to apply for early eligibility into the 2018 NFL Draft. He will be in the mix to be the top tight end selected. I see a lot of similarities to Greg Olsen in his play.

Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com writes that the big tight end is "not a blazer but has enough speed to stretch the seam and possesses the size and strength to be a blocking asset at the next level." He also grades him out as a fifth or sixth rounder, according to Rotowire.com.

ESPN NFL Draft analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have their opinions as to where Hurst ranks in the tight end pecking order.

#NFLDraft Todd McShay Top 5 TE



1. Dallas Goedert (SDSU)

2. Mike Gesicki (PSU)

3. Hayden Hurst (South Carolina)

4. Mark Andrews (Oklahoma)

5. Ryan Izzo (FSU) — CFB Talk ?? (@FansOfCFB) December 6, 2017

#NFLDraft Mel Kiper Jr. Top 5 TE



1. Dallas Goedert (SDSU)

2. Mark Andrews (Oklahoma)

3. Mike Gesicki (PSU)

4. Ian Thomas (Indiana)

5. Hayden Hurst (South Carolina) — CFB Talk ?? (@FansOfCFB) December 6, 2017

Hurst and the rest of the Gamecocks will take on Michigan in the Outback Bowl on January 1 at noon on ESPN2.