News Detail
Raiders Choose Maurice Hurst Jr. ’13
On Saturday, April 28, Maurice “Mo” Hurst Jr. ’13 received the call that he had been waiting for his entire life. The Oakland Raiders selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft to strengthen their defensive line.
Although a heart condition had pushed Mo, a star for Michigan and a projected first-round pick, to a much later round than he expected, he was nonetheless thrilled for the opportunity to play at the game’s highest level.
“I plan on using [the setback] as motivation and continuing to do what I’ve been doing as far as working hard, studying my material, and working on my craft,” Mo said. With the whirlwind experience of the draft now behind him, he is putting his focus on obtaining his goal of “ultimately becoming a great NFL player.” He called the opportunity to be a Raider a “dream scenario.”
Indeed, Oakland’s defense was the 12th best in the league last season against the run, and stopping running backs is Mo’s specialty. “This is a great, great day for the Raiders,” Head Coach Jon Gruden told Hurst in a post-draft phone call. “We are really excited to add you to our team. I know it’s been a long process and the only reason you’re still around in the fifth round is because teams have their question marks, but we got no doubts about you.”
Hurst, who says he knew he wanted to be a football player since the age of seven, starred on Xaverian’s varsity football team from 2009-2012. He excelled here on Clapboardtree Street, earning All-Scholastic honors and proving himself to be both a world-class talent and the ultimate team player. In true Xaverian fashion, he remembered that “one of the best moments of my Hawks career was beating St. John’s Prep my junior year and getting a win on Thanksgiving,” calling it “a memory I will never forget!”
He describes his Xaverian experience as essential to his success and says it helped him become the player he is today. “Being able to work with the great football coaches to establish a strong work ethic was key,” Mo said. And he adds, “having a strength and conditioning program (that a lot of schools don’t have) helped make the difference in my performance on the field.” He advised current players to “always listen to the coaches and buy into the process, as there is a reason there have been so many successful players from Xaverian.”
Xaverian Head Football Coach Al Fornaro, who was the defensive coordinator during Mo’s dominating high school career, raved about his skills in an interview with the Boston Herald before the draft. He called him “one of the fastest kids I have ever had the chance to coach,” adding that “once the ball was moving, he was gone.”
After Xaverian, Mo moved on to Michigan, where he earned a scholarship and played in 46 games over his college tenure, amassing 134 tackles and 12.5 sacks. He was also brilliant in the classroom, and his hard work paid off with four selections to the Academic All-Big Ten list and graduation with a degree in sports management. “I wish we had more Mo Hursts,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters last season.
Despite the roadblock at the scouting combine, Charlie Stevenson ’69, Xaverian’s Director of Athletics and former head football coach, believes “the Oakland Raiders got the steal of the draft,” as Mo is “just one of those guys who loves to play football, and guys who love to play football find a way to make their mark. Surely, Mo will make his mark in the NFL.”
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Phone: 781-326-6392
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EIN (Tax ID Number): 04-2314036
Fax: 781-320-0458
Directions | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
EIN (Tax ID Number): 04-2314036
Xaverian is a Catholic, college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7-12. As an inclusive community, we embrace diverse experiences and perspectives, welcoming students and families from all faiths and backgrounds. Through exceptional academics, athletics, the arts, faith formation, and service opportunities, we help young men discover their unique gifts and talents so they can share them with a world in need.
