— Hayden Hurst has finally found a sport Julien Davenport Jersey , position and team that are best suited for his athletic ability: football, tight end, Baltimore Ravens.
After being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2012 draft, Hurst pitched in the Gulf Coast League in 2013. He tried first base the following year before calling it a career.
“It wasn’t exactly the easiest three years of my life. But I learned a lot about myself,” Hurst said.
He then played football at South Carolina, lining up as a wide receiver in 2015 before moving to tight end. In 38 games with the Gamecocks, Hurst scored four touchdowns — one of them on a 2-yard run.
Still, Hurst was impressive enough to be picked 25th overall by the Ravens in the 2018 NFL draft. Just 39 minutes into his first game last Thursday night, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound rookie caught a touchdown pass to help Baltimore beat Chicago 17-16 in the Hall of Fame Game.
“It’s pretty exciting Malik Jefferson Jersey ,” Hurst said after Saturday’s practice. “I’m a big body guy, and I like to be utilized in the red zone. I’m a threat there. At South Carolina, I wasn’t used a whole lot in the red zone. Nut here I think they’re going to take advantage of it. So it should be a fun career.”
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has long relied on his tight end for big plays and touchdowns. From Todd Heap to Dennis Pitta to Benjamin Watson, the man in the middle of the field has been a vital component of the Baltimore offense.
Hurst could very well be the newest addition to that impressive list.
“Joe throws to the tight ends a lot. He has a lot of faith in that position,” Hurst noted. “When things kind of break down, he tries to find us. It puts more emphasis on my position.”
Flacco didn’t take a snap in Baltimore’s preseason opener, yet both Baltimore touchdowns were scored by tight ends. Hurst’s 8-yard TD came on a pass from Lamar Jackson, a former Heisman Trophy winner who was after Hurst (32nd overall) but has received far more publicity and acclaim.
“The quarterback gets all the attention. That’s how this league works,” Hurst said. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
Baltimore lists six tight ends on the roster, so the 24-year-old Hurst is going to have to earn playing time. Though he admits he needs to know the playbook better Ricardo Louis Jersey , Hurst has already made a positive impression.
“It was good to see Hayden play well in the first game. That’s the first test,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “The next test is to come back and have a good week of practice and take it into the next game.”
Toward that end, Hurst made a sensational grab between three defenders Saturday, drawing a collective cheer from the fans in attendance.
Not bad for a former baseball player.
“I’m glad I experienced it,” Hurst says of his abbreviated baseball career. “It kind of hardened me, made me the football player that I am today. That’s why I play fast and physical, because I don’t want anything to be taken away from me like I kind of had with baseball.”
In other news, the Ravens activated six-time Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda from the physically unable to perform list Saturday. Yanda had offseason shoulder surgery and will slowly be worked back into a practice routine.
“Very encouraging,” Harbaugh said. “This was the target date, so he’s right now schedule.”
Dylan Donahue is ready to focus on football again after an offseason of legal troubles.
The New York Jets linebacker pleaded guilty Wednesday in Weehawken Municipal Court to driving while intoxicated in connection with a wrong-way crash in the Lincoln Tunnel that injured four people in February. As part of a plea deal Ronald Leary Jersey , three other charges were dismissed.
Donahue will have to drive with an ignition interlock device for a year after his license is reinstated.
”The court made their decision, obviously,” Donahue said after practice Thursday, ”and I think they did what they thought was necessary and I agreed with it.”
Donahue is facing other DUI charges in his hometown of Billings, Montana, from an incident on May 9, 2017 – 10 days after he was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round out of West Georgia. He said he expects that case to be settled in the next ”two to three days” and doesn’t anticipate having to appear in court.
The 25-year-old Donahue checked himself into a substance-abuse treatment facility in Jacksonville, Florida, for 30 days during the winter. He said his situation was ”absolutely … definitely” a wakeup call.
”Well, since the incident Patrick DiMarco Jersey , I haven’t had a drop of alcohol,” Donahue said when asked if his legal troubles have changed him. ”And I’ve encouraged my teammates that do have any issues with that subject, too. I like to help everyone out. It’s definitely changed my perspective on a lot of things.”
Donahue could be facing a suspension from the NFL as a result of the DWI arrests. He said he hasn’t yet heard from the league.
The second-year player is trying to earn a spot on the Jets’ roster after having his rookie season cut short by a torn ligament in his right elbow. Donahue is fully healthy, but acknowledged that his legal situation has weighed heavily on his mind.
”I can’t say it hasn’t,” he said. ”I mean, it was a pretty big deal and it’s something I’m not proud of, obviously. But I’m moving forward and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this team this year.”
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