*Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee Football News: Draft Scout Player News

08/14/22 - WR *Jalin Hyatt, Jr/2023, Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers employed the quickest offensive tempo in college football last season, averaging 474.9 yards and 39.3 points per game. Jalin Hyatt missed out on a lot of that fun. After amassing 276 yards and 13.8 yards per reception as a freshman in 2020, Hyatt's numbers dipped to 226 yards and 10.8 per catch last season as Velus Jones Jr. took control of the slot position with 62 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns. Hyatt admitted this spring to being "complacent" after the coaching transition from Jeremy Pruitt to Josh Heupel and echoed those sentiments Thursday as the Vols resumed preseason workouts following Wednesday's day off. "Last year was hard on me," Hyatt said in a news conference. "I lost my confidence and didn't really know the offense as well as I know it this year. I wasn't going as hard last year. "I think Velus helped me a lot when he was here. He stood up and took over the role when I couldn't, but this year I'm locked in. I'm ready to go."

Hyatt is competing under his third position coach in as many years, with the 6-foot, 180-pounder - he played at 164 pounds last season - out of Irmo, South Carolina, having worked for Tee Martin as a freshman, Kodi Burns last season and Kelsey Pope now. Pope was an offensive analyst for the Vols last season and was promoted in early March after Burns became the receivers coach for the NFL's New Orleans Saints. Having witnessed Hyatt's struggles a year ago, Pope has liked what he's seen so far in camp. "Jalin Hyatt seems like a different guy mentally," Pope said. "Physically, he's gained about eight to 10 pounds. The competitiveness he showed last year he's channeling in a different direction. You see him respond the right way. You see him coach guys up when he's not in. "He's really taken on that accountability role for himself and also the group." - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Jr/2023