Hurt was born in Milledgeville, Georgia, and named for his father, Sparrow Maurice Hurt.[2][3] He attended Baldwin High School in Milledgeville, and played high school football for the Baldwin Braves.
College career[]
Hurt received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Urban Meyer's Florida Gators football team from 2006 to 2010. He played in three games as a true freshman in 2006, but was subsequently redshirted by his coaches. As a redshirt sophomore in 2008, he was a member of the Gators' SEC Championship team, and played in the 2009 BCS Championship Game in which the Gators defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 24–14.
Professional career[]
Washington Redskins[]
2011 Season[]
Hurt was drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He was waived on September 3, 2011, but signed to the practice squad on September 4, 2011.[4]
On October 19, 2011, Hurt was signed to the active roster. In Week 9 against San Francisco 49ers, Hurt made his NFL debut and first career start as left guard of the offensive line.[5]
Hurt continued to start as the left guard for the rest of the season replacing Kory Lictensteiger, who was out for the season due to tearing his ACL.
2012 Season[]
During the 2012 offseason, Hurt stated that he was getting practice reps at the tackle position.[6][7] During training camp, he split snaps at left guard with Josh LeRibeus after Kory Lichtensteiger had arthroscopic surgery and split snaps at right tackle with Tyler Polumbus and Willie Smith after Jammal Brown was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.[8][9] After playing as a reserve guard for most of the season, Hurt started at right tackle in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles for Tyler Polumbus, who suffered a concussion in the previous game.[10][11]