Tennessee Football: Jalin Hyatt receives the Biletnikoff Award, more

Tennessee football wide receiver Jalin Hyatt received the Biletnikoff award yesterday.

Tennessee Volunteer football is starting to be well known as WRU, also known as Wide Receiver university. The play on words describes how good the Vols WR room is starting to become, and it stems from Jalin Hyatt’s breakout season last year. Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award and was named the nation’s best WR, following his 1,267 yards & 15 touchdown season.

Hyatt is very familiar with breaking records and making a name for himself. Last season, Jalin was a unanimous All-American for the first time in the previous 14 years of Tennessee football.

What is the Biletnikoff Award?

According to the Biletnikoff Award official website:

"“The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the season’s outstanding college football receiver regardless of position by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., (TQCF)…The TQC Foundation, Inc., joined the idea of a college receiver’s award to the organization’s vision and created the outstanding award and dynamic organization. The trophy, presented to each winner, is the most beautiful in college football – it has won several national awards for design excellence and aesthetic appeal.”"

It is a great honor for the former Tennessee football receiver to achieve this award. He has paved the way for future Vols on what it takes to receive such a high honor.

What does this award mean for Hyatt’s future?

Being awarded the Biletnikoff boosted Hyatt’s draft stock and created tons of hype around him before performing at the NFL Combine. All eyes were on Hyatt over the Combine weekend, and he performed exceptionally well

Here is a quick recap of Jalin Hyatt’s NFL Combine performance:

Tennessee Football Prospect Stats:

• Height: 6-foot
• Weight: 176 pounds
• Hand: 9 inches
• Arm: 32 1/2 inches
• Wingspan: 6 feet, 5 5/8 inches

Event Stats (Ranking among WR):

• 40-yard dash: 4.40 seconds (6th)
• 10-second split: 1.50 seconds (6th)
• Vertical jump: 40 inches (4th)
• Broad jump: 11 feet, 3 inches (1st)
• Three-cone drill: N/A
• 20-yard shuttle: N/A
• Bench press (225 pounds): N/A

NFL.com grade:

6.50 – Boom-or-bust potential/Likely 1st round pick

NFL.com Scouting Report, according to NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein:

"“Long, slender wideout with deep speed that could force defensive coordinators to alter coverage considerations. Hyatt’s gliding gait disguises explosive acceleration that can lead to easy separation on deep throws.However, he does display inconsistency on contested catches comes. Hyatt is ordinary getting in and out of intermediate breaks and might be best with a limited route tree full of slants, crossers and a series of field-stretching patterns. Hyatt is an instantly credible WR2 with the ability to make a huge impact, but production could be erratic due to the limitations of his game.”"

How did past Biletnikoff Award winners do in the NFL Draft?

Here is a list of the last ten award winners and where they landed in the NFL Draft:

2022 – Jalin Hyatt, University of Tennessee: (Entered into 2023 NFL Draft)

2021 – Jordan Addison, University of Pittsburgh: (Entered into 2023 NFL Draft)

2020 – DeVonta Smith, University of Alabama: Rd. 1, Pick 10

2019 – Ja’Marr Chase, Louisiana State University: Rd. 1, Pick 5

2018 – Jerry Jeudy, University of Alabama: Rd. 1, Pick 15

2017 – James Washington, Oklahoma State University: Rd. 2, Pick 60

2016 – Dede Westbrook, University of Oklahoma: Rd. 4, Pick 110

2015 – Corey Coleman, Baylor University: Rd. 1, Pick 15

2014 – Amari Cooper, University of Alabama: Rd. 1, Pick 4

2013 – Brandin Cooks, Oregon State University: Rd. 1, Pick 20

2012 – Marqise Lee, University of Southern California: Rd. 2, Pick 39