Jalin Hyatt’s first two years with Tennessee didn’t produce much on the field with 41 catches for just over 500 yards and four touchdowns as a minor part of the Volunteers offense. That all changed last season with Hyatt popping off into the conversation as one of the best wide receivers in college football. 

“I would say hard work,” Hyatt said. “I would say what I did in the offseason was probably the biggest thing for me. Taking advantage of our facilities. Taking advantage of our training room. Being more mature. I think that’s the biggest thing for me. I think those three things were the biggest thing for me.”

Hyatt became a first team All-American with 67 receptions for nearly 1,300 yards and 15 TDs, good for second most in the country.

His biggest moment came in Tennessee’s biggest game, reeling in six grabs for over 200 yards and five touchdowns in an upset win over Alabama - a true breakout performance.

“To be honest, after the game I knew expectations would be bigger for me,” he said. “I knew it was either you can have this one good game, this big game and be a nobody after that or you can keep building. So for me, I worried about the next game. Worried about the next game, who our next opponent was. We were still in season. Weren’t celebrating anything. At that point, I was trying to get the Biletnikoff. Working for that and just trying to get better every day. I can’t live off one game, especially not now. So when that did happen, I was focused on the next week and trying to get better.”

Hyatt wins with speed, running at 4.4 flat 40 at the NFL Combine, measuring in at 6 feet and 176 pounds. He’s a borderline first to second-round selection.