Former Gamecocks star Hayden Hurst drafted 25th, headed to Baltimore

Former South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst snapped the Gamecocks’ NFL Draft drought on Thursday night, selected 25th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas.

An All-SEC standout, Hurst reeled in 97 catches for 1,240 yards in his college career, making him just the third South Carolina tight end to eclipse 1,000 yards. He also set single-season records for a tight end with receptions (48) and yardage (616). At 24, Hurst is a bit older than the typical junior, owing to a previous stint in professional baseball.

Hurst became the program’s first first-round pick since Jadeveon Clowney went No. 1 overall in 2014.