One of the true burners in the class, Tennessee wide receiver Jalen Hyatt exploded onto the scene this season and onto the radar of NFL front offices, he will look to keep that momentum going as he enters the 2023 draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Volunteers’ speedster:
Vitals
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
Class: Junior
Strengths
The true definition of a deep threat, Jalin Hyatt showed the football world what he is capable of this past season in an explosive Tennessee offense that maximized his skillset as he had one of the most productive seasons by any wide receiver in college football. His truest and most obvious strength is his speed.
He is a football player first with an elite-level sprinter’s skill set, which makes defending any offense he is in a true nightmare for defensive backs. Once he is off the line he bursts into a second gear that few players can match and if you do not double him he will simply exploit whoever is across from him, and even double teams he can simply beat the angles taken with that same speed.
Hyatt is not necessarily a one trick pony either, his length, balance, and instincts are top notch. He understands how to use that length to close in on deep balls, separate from press, and open up his catch radius. He adjusts extremely well to deep balls and understands how to put his body into place to make a play on the ball, as well as how to work defenders to find an opening to speed through.
Another way he was used at Tennessee was in the screen game as his ability to see a hole and hit a third gear before defenders could react was seemingly unstoppable at times, he was used as a gadget player at time and that same creative play calling will serve him well as even in the NFL he will need to be accounted for at all times as someone who could score on literally any play. He impacts the game simply by existing on the field.
Weaknesses
There has to be some concern with the fact that this is really his only significant year after three years at Tennessee in what is a more gimmicky offense. Teams will justifiably wonder if he is more of a product of a creative system that took good advantage of his track speed, or if he is truly that dominant of a receiver threat who can play at the next level.
His lack of experience is compounded by the fact he was rarely asked to run the majority of the route tree. Most of his production comes from go routes, screens, and speed outs. If he wants to continue to play in the slot or really be elevated at whatever spot he takes at the next level, he will need to develop his route tree by a wide margin and learn everything that comes with that.
Projection
Jalin Hyatt is going to be considered one of the premiere deep threats in the class on a Desean Jackson level, and with the game evolving toward a pass-happy league each and every year, players with that kind of speed who understand the position become more valuable. He still has some developing to do and there are whispers of a one-year wonder, but his speed and tape should win out over any of those doubts. Offensive coordinators will be excited to get their hands on him and install any number of plays around him, and perhaps design the offense to work around his strengths with time.
Projection: Top 20 Pick
