Tennessee football: Two Vols make outlet’s SEC All-Breakout Team for 2021

With a new head coach, a new system on both sides of the ball, promising young talent and a ton of new projected starters across the board, any success that Tennessee football enjoys this year will have to involve some breakout players. Two Vols who showed flashes last year are already generating such expectations.

Sophomore wide receiver Jalin Hyatt and sophomore edge rusher Tyler Baron were both named on the 2021 SEC All-Breakout Team by Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports. Baron was listed as a linebacker but could end up playing defensive end depending on what scheme Tim Banks runs.

Both players saw action for Tennessee football last year and showed promise. As a result, it’s not really the new system that puts them on here. The fact that they are expected to start full-time given the departures of other players is the real story.

As a true freshman, Hyatt was third on the team in receiving last year with 20 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Velus Jones Jr., another returning player, was second on the team, but Josh Palmer was first on the team in receiving, and he’s left for the NFL. Hyatt’s closest competitor at the position behind him, Brandon Johnson, transferred to the UCF Knights.

With Hyatt only one of two returning players who had over 200 yards receiving last year and now playing for a system under Josh Heupel known for putting up yards through the air, it makes sense that the 6’0″ 175-pound playmaker would be on this list. His potential is through the roof.

However, the Vols did add some receivers, including Mississippi State Bulldogs transfer JaVonta Payton, who actually has more experience at this level than Hyatt. As a result, he will have some competition for touches this year.

There will certainly be more competition for Hyatt to break out than Baron. With edge rusher Kivon Bennett being dismissed late last year and Deandre Johnson then transferring to the Miami Hurricanes, that position is wide open.

While just playing reserve last year, Baron had three tackles for a loss and a sack. He registered 21 tackles in total, 13 of which were solo. Now, with expectations of seeing much more action, he is expected to thrive at 6’5″ 260 pounds.

Both Baron and Hyatt were four-stars across the board in Tennessee football’s 2020 recruiting class. They would have been expected to break out regardless of who was coaching this year. However, given the transfers and Heupel’s system, the expectations for them are now much greater. At least one of them should be All-SEC by the end of the year.