NFL Draft prospect say he models his game after 'elite' Jalen Hurts

Jaxson Dart — one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects available in the 2025 NFL Draft — said that he models his game after Jalen Hurts.

"I think it’s a little bit of a cop-out because he just won the Super Bowl, but I love J Hurts and what he does,” Dart said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I feel like I’m very similar in my play style to him. I feel like we can do a lot of the same things.

“Obviously, he’s an elite player and I’m trying to reach that level," Dart added. "But he’s been somebody that I’ve tried to resemble my game after just because of his versatility — being able to run and throw the ball, and just how strong he is in the pocket. That’s something that I’ve had a lot of fun watching, observing his play style." 

Jaxson Dart was asked what QB he thinks his playing style most closely resembles. His answer...Jalen Hurts. pic.twitter.com/n2jjWSDyaA

— 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗 (@Spencito_) February 28, 2025

This isn't considered a particularly strong quarterback class, with Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders the only players at the position certain to go in the first round. Dart, Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Oregon's Dillon Gabriel and Ohio State's Will Howard are among the next tier of quarterbacks. 

Like Hurts, Dart spent his collegiate career in two different programs. He began at USC, but spent the bulk of his time at Ole Miss. Dart led the SEC with 4,279 passing yards this past season, while tossing 29 touchdowns to six interceptions. He added 495 yards and three touchdowns as a rusher. 

From an Eagles perspective, it's interesting to hear a top prospect referring to Hurts as someone he's modeled his game after. Gone are the days where most young quarterbacks come up trying to emulate pure pocket quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, as players capable of beating you both within the pocket and outside of it — like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen — are the inspirations to most kids today. 

But few prospects in NFL history have the arm strength of Mahomes and Allen. Probably even less can run like Lamar Jackson, who has also developed into a great passer. Hurts might not be as rare of a talent as that trio, which might make him a more realistic player to emulate. He throws a good deep ball and is one of the better running quarterbacks in the league. But Hurts is 6-foot-1 and 223 pounds. That's someone — especially when you consider Dart is 6-foot-2, 215 pounds — that it makes sense for quarterbacks with more modest physical characteristics to model themselves after, especially given how much he's won.