6’0″ 175 pounds; Hometown: Irmo, S.C.
We started with a rising junior wide receiver, and we end with a rising sophomore receiver. Given the departures of Josh Palmer and Brandon Johnson, that’s obviously a position wide open for Tennessee football heading into the year.
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Velus Jones Jr. is the top producer among all the returning receivers, but Jalin Hyatt is the top producer among all the returning underclassmen receivers. With Josh Heupel’s tempo-based offense and reliance on the passing attack, he’s going to need multiple players to produce at a high level, and Hyatt appears destined to do that.
Last year, Hyatt had 20 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Despite his relatively small frame as a wideout, he proved he could be a deadly deep threat when in the game. In Heupel’s system, his frame will actually matter less.
The graduate of Dutch Fork High School in South Carolina’s Richland County, which is also where Bryce Thompson went to school, seems most destined for a breakout year. Those numbers, though, are enough to show that he doesn’t belong at the top of this list just due to potential. He has actually shown he can produce.
That Hyatt was able to produce with such issues in the passing game only further speaks to his talent. Look for him to become a possible superstar for Tennessee football this year. He’s a great player for Heupel to start installing his system around.