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Tennessee football WR Jalin Hyatt joins rare Vols company with Biletnikoff Award

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) comes down with the touchdown catch during the NCAA football match between Tennessee and Kentucky in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.Tennesseevskentucky1029 2306
Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) comes down with the touchdown catch during the NCAA football match between Tennessee and Kentucky in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.Tennesseevskentucky1029 2306 /
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Inductee Steve DeLong, center, shares a moment with Wallene, left, and Dee Dockery during the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame annual banquet at the Vanderbilt Stadium Club Feb. 17, 1989. Wallene and Dee are the son and wife of the late Memphis State football coach Rex Dockery, who was posthumously inducted into the hall along with the late Tennessee State football coach John Merritt.89then02 042
Inductee Steve DeLong, center, shares a moment with Wallene, left, and Dee Dockery during the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame annual banquet at the Vanderbilt Stadium Club Feb. 17, 1989. Wallene and Dee are the son and wife of the late Memphis State football coach Rex Dockery, who was posthumously inducted into the hall along with the late Tennessee State football coach John Merritt.89then02 042 /

Steve DeLong. 1. player. 839. Middle guard. 1964. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis

Outland Trophy

Yes, three and a half decades before Peyton Manning, Tennessee football had its first award winner. To be fair, by this point, the Vols already had players finish second in the Heisman twice: Hank Lauricella in 1951 and Johnny Majors in 1956. Gene McEver would’ve won the Heisman in 1929, but it didn’t exist during that time.

Still, in 1964, Steve DeLong was the star. The Vols were in a transition phase. Doug Dickey was in his first year, and he had moved away from the single wing to install the slot T on offense. Rocky Top was having to move past the first half of the 20th century of football and the Robert Neyland era, and Dickey drug them kicking and screaming.

While that launched a 10-year run from 1965 to 1974 of all top 20 finishes, two SEC Championships and a retroactive national championship, 1964 was still about developing it. The Vols went 4-5-1 that year, and their one bright spot was DeLong on defense.

Hendon Hooker's rank among Heisman robberies. dark. Next

A future NFL linebacker, DeLong helped Tennessee football tie the No. 7 ranked LSU Tigers and beat the No. 7 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in back to back weeks. As a result, he was awarded the Outland Trophy, and this and the Campbell Award are the only two that multiple Vols have won.

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