NEW ORLEANS — Following a 2025 season in which it earned its first-ever berth into the College Football Playoff (CFP) and paced all non-autonomy conferences in Bowl Season representation for the fourth-straight year, the Sun Belt produced a pair of 2026 NFL Draft selections in All-Sun Belt First Team wide receiver Ted Hurst from Georgia State and All-Sun Belt First Team linebacker Jaden Dugger from Louisiana.
The conference has produced multiple NFL Draft selections in 22-of-25 drafts since it began sponsoring football in 2001, with four of its six highest NFL Draft totals coming over the past seven seasons. The Sun Belt registered a conference-record nine selections in 2023, seven draftees in 2020 and six picks in 2022 and 2024. The Sun Belt has tallied six-or-more draft picks on six occasions all-time (2010, 2012, 2020, 2022, 2023 & 2024).
Hurst was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round with the 84th overall pick, the highest NFL Draft selection in Panthers program history.
Hurst’s selection gave the Sun Belt day two picks in back-to-back years for the first time since 2017 and 2018. The Panther wideout followed Marshall alumnus defensive lineman Mike Green, who was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Hurst is the 24th Sun Belt student-athlete all-time to be selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. Hurst is the fifth NFL Draft pick in Georgia State history and the fourth of the program’s Sun Belt era, following the Indianapolis Colts selection of offensive lineman Ulrick John in 2014, the Washington Commanders pick of wide receiver Robert Davis in 2017 and the Green Bay Packers selection of offensive lineman Travis Glover in 2024.
The Savannah, Ga., native ranked 14th in the nation with 83.7 receiving yards per game and 5.92 receptions per game as a senior, posting 1,004 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns on 71 receptions. Despite playing just two years at Georgia State, he ranks fourth in program history with 1,965 receiving yards, fourth with 15 receiving touchdowns, fourth with 15.5 yards per reception and fifth with 127 receptions for his career.
Dugger was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round with the 154th overall pick, giving the Ragin’ Cajuns at least one selection in six of the last seven NFL Drafts.
Dugger is the 20th NFL Draft pick of Louisiana’s Sun Belt era, which dates back to the conference’s inaugural football season in 2001.
The Pittsburgh, Pa., native ranked 14th in the nation with 9.6 tackles per game as a senior, posting 125 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.