Former Gamecock Hayden Hurst traded, coming back to the southeast
Former South Carolina football star Hayden Hurst is on the move.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported Monday that Hurst was traded from the Baltimore Ravens along with a fourth-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for a second- and fifth-round pick. The transaction was announced not long after.
Hurst was the No. 25 pick in 2018 and is heading into his third NFL year.
“Finally have a second to take a breath and soak this in,” Hurst shared via Twitter late Monday. “Thanks to the @ravens for bringing me in and giving me a chance in the league. Baltimore was always great to me and I’ve got love for the city, always. This is what we sign up for ! Let’s get to work @AtlantaFalcons #RiseUp”
Hurst had 30 catches for 349 yards and a touchdown last season. He was part of an offense that relied on three tight ends around quarterback Lamar Jackson. Hurst battled injuries his first season in the pros, but he did post 163 yards and a touchdown in 12 games.
Atlanta released tight end Luke Stocker earlier in the day.
Last season, Austin Hooper was the Falcons’ top tight end, with 75 catches, 787 yards and six touchdowns. He is reportedly leaving for Cleveland.
At South Carolina, Hurst set records, posting 616 and 559 yards in his final two seasons. A former minor league baseball player, he found a second career with Gamecocks football under Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp. He was a first-team All-SEC player in 2017.
Hurst has also done work raising awareness of mental health issues after battling depression and once attempting suicide during his college years.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 2:34 PM.
