Jalin Hyatt

BIOGRAPHY

Jalin Hyatt was born September 25, 2001, in Irmo, South Carolina. He is a wide receiver in the NFL.

On October 3, 2020, Hyatt recorded his first college reception in a 35-12 victory over Missouri. On October 24, Hyatt caught his first collegiate touchdown, a 38-yard pass from Jarrett Guarantano, in a 48–17 loss to Alabama. The touchdown was part of a season-high 86 receiving yards for Hyatt. He scored one other receiving touchdown on the season, against Vanderbilt on December 12.

Hyatt finished his freshman season with 20 receptions for 276 yards and two touchdowns.

Entering his junior season, Hyatt was once again viewed as a possible breakout player by many, including Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, with Heupel citing Hyatt's improved strength and confidence as potential keys to his success. In Tennessee's second game of the year, Hyatt recorded a career-high 11 receptions in a 34–27 overtime victory at #17 Pittsburgh. The following week, Hyatt recorded his first career 100-yard game in a 166 yard performance against Akron. Following an injury to fellow wide receiver Cedric Tillman, Hyatt would emerge as Tennessee's top pass catching target. On October 15, 2022, Hyatt had a breakout performance against rival #3 Alabama, recording a career-high 207 receiving yards and catching a school-record five touchdowns in a 52–49 upset win, the Volunteers first win over Alabama since 2006. For his performance against Alabama he was named the SEC Offensive Player of the week. Hyatt followed his historic performance against Alabama with another strong performance the following week catching seven passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in a blowout win over UT-Martin. The next week on October 29, 2022, Hyatt broke the Tennessee record for single season touchdown receptions, catching his 14th touchdown of the season in a 44–6 win over Kentucky. The following week Tennessee traveled to play Georgia in an undefeated matchup between the teams ranked #1 in the CFP and AP Poll rankings respectively. Hyatt and the Tennessee offense would be held in check by Georgia's physical defense in a 27–13 loss in which Hyatt failed to score. Hyatt bounced back the following week against Missouri where he caught seven passes for 146 yards including a 68-yard touchdown from quarterback Hendon Hooker en route to a 66–24 victory. Hyatt returned to his home state of South Carolina to play against the South Carolina Gamecocks, Hyatt recorded six catches for 67 yards as Tennessee lost 38–63 in an upset that all but ended the Volunteers playoff aspirations. Hyatt finished the regular season with a three-catch, 83-yard performance against rival Vanderbilt in a 56–0 win. He ended the 2022 season with 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. His 1,267 receiving yards were the second-most in school history, trailing Marcus Nash's 1997 season by 31 yards. Hyatt led the SEC in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

At the conclusion of the season, Hyatt was named the Fred Biletnikoff Award winner for the nations' best receiver, making him the first Tennessee player to win the award. He was also named a unanimous All-American, the Volunteers first since Eric Berry in 2009.