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Tennessee football’s top five sophomores for 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel with offensive linemen Cooper Mays (63) and Dayne Davis (66) during morning football practice on campus on Friday, August 20, 2021.Kns Ut Football Practice Bp
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel with offensive linemen Cooper Mays (63) and Dayne Davis (66) during morning football practice on campus on Friday, August 20, 2021.Kns Ut Football Practice Bp /
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Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) prepares to catch the ball for an eventual touchdown during the Alabama and Tennessee football game at Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.Tennessee Vs Alabama Football 100771
Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) prepares to catch the ball for an eventual touchdown during the Alabama and Tennessee football game at Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.Tennessee Vs Alabama Football 100771 /

Scouting Report. Irmo, S.C.. player. Pick Analysis. Wide receiver. Jalin Hyatt. 4. 839

6’0″ 175 pounds

There isn’t a sophomore on Tennessee football’s roster who is entering 2021 with higher expectations surrounding him than Jalin Hyatt. Last year, Hyatt had 20 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns. His numbers were second among receivers returning this year to only Velus Jones Jr., who is expected to be the go-to receiver.

What stands out about Hyatt is that despite his size, he can be a deep threat at wideout. That has to do with his elite speed, and it’s a huge reason he’s expected to thrive this year. A guy that can play wideout solely due to speed is the perfect fit for Josh Heupel’s offense.

The graduate of Dutch Fork High School in South Carolina’s Lexington County will still have some underrated competition to be a key receiver in the rotation. Cedric Tillman stood out in the spring, and Josh Heupel added Mississippi State Bulldogs transfer JaVonta Payton.

However, Hyatt showed enough last year to suggest that he’s ready to step up and be a huge star for the Vols in 2021. Heupel’s system is only going to be friendlier to him, so it’s possible he even exceeds expectations, which are pretty high for him already. Simply put, he’s easily one of the top sophomores on here.

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