2023 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Jalin Hyatt, WR Tennessee
It feels like there is much less talk and banter about this year’s wide receiver class in comparison to recent years. Some of that may be due to the excitement of some of the quarterbacks heading into the NFL Draft after some lackluster NFL production last season from the rookie signal-callers. Some of it may be the sheer volume of seeing Bijan Robinson’s name dominating draft conversations.
Or it could be that this class feels less exciting compared to previous years where the dynasty crowd has been spoiled with players like Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Garrett Wilson, to name a few.
That does not mean that there are not some exciting wide receivers with potential to be paying attention to, like Jalin Hyatt.
AS A RECRUIT
Hyatt landed in Knoxville as a four-star recruit in 2020 from Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, South Carolina. He set records in both receiving yards (3,624) and receiving touchdowns (57) respectively. Despite that success, he did not receive in-state recruitments and ended up eventually committing to the University of Tennessee.
COLLEGIATE CAREER
Stats courtesy of Sports Reference.
Despite a slow start as a freshman, Hyatt showed promise as a deep threat and a nose for the end zone. He scored twice on 20 receptions and averaged 13.8 yards per reception.
His sophomore season statistically looked eerily similar, once again finding the end zone twice on limited involvement.
His junior season is when he exploded as a receiver. Hyatt finished with 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns over 12 games; both of which led the SEC. He finished with 80 or more receiving yards in six of those games including three games of 150 yards or more.
Hyatt finished the 2022 season as the recipient of the prestigious Fred Biletnikoff award, unanimous All-American voting, and a First-Team All-SEC spot.
ATHLETIC PROFILE
Standing at six feet, Hyatt is lean-framed at 182 pounds. He has a long reach that assists in playing bigger than his body and creating a larger-than-expected catch radius.
One of the things that will be talked about most often is his blazing speed. He has reportedly run an electronically timed 4.31-second 40-yard dash. It is safe to say many NFL coaching staffers will be eager to see him run at the Scouting Combine this year.
STRENGTHS
- Elite quickness initially with the top speed to match
- Natural pass-catcher with reliable hands
- Tracks the ball well
- Nimble and explosive
- Excellent burst and lateral agility with the ball
- Precision route runner
WEAKNESSES
- Only one real season of elite production
- Lean frame
- Near exclusive slot alignment
- Limited route tree
- Acclimation to the NFL coming from a spread offense
DRAFT VALUE
Courtesy of NFL Mock Draft Database.
Hyatt did not bother with a steady rise in the mock draft world. He torpedoed in November and has remained in the early to mid-30s range.
He should hear his name called on day two unless some pre-draft concerns come to light. There are some that are mocking him at the end of the first round, which would be surprising.
DYNASTY OUTLOOK
Monitoring Hyatt’s dynasty value over the coming months should be interesting and create some potentially polarizing conversations.
Rankings courtesy of DLF.
Some may point out that he only had one season of elite production, which is true. Some may point out that playing against tough SEC defenses, he still finished with five games of over 100 yards, one of which was over 200 yards. Oh, and there is the whole 15 touchdowns thing as well.
Hyatt’s combination of speed, burst, and hands is coveted by NFL coaches. However, a slot-only receiver with one season of production in a spread offense doesn’t necessarily dictate sustained success at the next level. Is Hyatt closer to Will Fuller or Dede Westbrook?
One of the intriguing things about Hyatt’s skill set is his ability to score from anywhere on the field. With a little space and the football in his hands, he can nimbly and quickly create yards and potentially a score.
He needs to land in an offense that does not already have a strong slot receiver for any expected success in his rookie season. Some acclimation and route tree growth will be required.
One of the unsung attributes he possesses is a willingness to block, which he does well considering his size and frame.
Hyatt represents natural talent that needs cultivating to be more than an ancillary option in an NFL offense.
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