Jalin Hyatt: From Tennessee Volunteer to NFL Receiver – A Comprehensive Look at His College Career and Beyond
Jalin Daveon Hyatt, born on September 25, 2001, is an American professional football wide receiver currently playing for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). His journey to the NFL was paved with record-breaking performances in high school and a standout career at the University of Tennessee.
Early Life and High School Career
Hyatt was born in Irmo, South Carolina, a suburb of Columbia. He is the oldest son of Jamie, a former college basketball player and semi-professional cyclist, and Enevelyn Hyatt, who was a collegiate sprinter. Hyatt attended Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, where he established himself as a dominant force. During his high school career, he set school records for career receiving yards with 3,624 and receiving touchdowns with 57. Hyatt helped Dutch Fork achieve an undefeated season and win state championships in both 2018 and 2019. In the 2019 state championship game, he caught three touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime. Following his senior season, Hyatt was named a finalist for South Carolina's Mr. Football Award. He concluded his high school career as a four-star prospect at wide receiver, ranked as the 144th player in the 2020 class according to 247Sports.
Interestingly, despite his impressive high school statistics, Hyatt was not heavily recruited by in-state programs Clemson and South Carolina. Their primary concern revolved around his slender frame, as he weighed only 153 pounds (69 kg) at the time. South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp even suggested that he needed to "eat more peanut butter" to gain weight. Initially, Hyatt committed to play college football at Virginia Tech in February 2019 but reopened his recruitment in June of the same year.
College Career at the University of Tennessee
On July 27, 2019, Hyatt committed to the University of Tennessee to play under head coach Jeremy Pruitt. Pruitt described Hyatt as a "very polished" player.
2020 Season: Freshman Year
Hyatt recorded his first college reception on October 3, 2020, in a 35-12 victory over Missouri. He caught his first collegiate touchdown on October 24, a 38-yard pass from Jarrett Guarantano, in a 48-17 loss to Alabama. This touchdown was part of a season-high 86 receiving yards for Hyatt.
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2021 Season: Sophomore Year
Hyatt entered his junior season with high expectations, with Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel noting his improved strength and confidence as potential factors for a breakout year.
2022 Season: Junior Year and Breakout Performance
In Tennessee's second game of the year, Hyatt recorded a career-high 11 receptions in a 34-27 overtime victory against #17 Pittsburgh. The following week, he achieved his first career 100-yard game with 166 receiving yards against Akron. Following an injury to fellow wide receiver Cedric Tillman, Hyatt emerged as Tennessee's primary pass-catching target.
October 15, 2022, marked a defining moment in Hyatt's career. Against rival #3 Alabama, he delivered a record-breaking performance, recording a career-high 207 receiving yards and catching a school-record five touchdowns in a 52-49 upset win. This victory was the Volunteers' first over Alabama since 2006. For his outstanding performance against Alabama, he was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
Hyatt concluded his three-year Tennessee career with 1,769 yards and 19 touchdowns on 108 receptions.
Awards and Recognition at Tennessee
- SEC Offensive Player of the Week (October 2022)
- Biletnikoff Award (2022)
- Unanimous NCAA All-American (2022)
NFL Draft and Professional Career
Hyatt was selected by the New York Giants in the third round as the 73rd overall pick in the NFL Draft. On May 15, he signed his rookie contract with the team, securing a four-year deal.
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2023 Season: Rookie Year
Hyatt was held without a catch in his NFL debut. However, the following week against the Arizona Cardinals, he caught two passes for 89 yards, including a 58-yard reception while the Giants were trailing 20-0. Quarterback Daniel Jones highlighted this play as "key" to the Giants' comeback victory, 31-28. During Week 12 against the New England Patriots, Hyatt was named the NFL's Pepsi Offensive Rookie of the Week. He posted his first career 100-receiving yard game, finishing with 109 receiving yards.
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