How the film shows that Vols WR Jalin Hyatt is more than just a deep threat
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jalin Hyatt is one of the fastest players in the nation with his 40 time in the 4.3 range. Hyatt has shown off his speed this season by regularly blowing past defenders for long touchdown receptions. I haven't really heard folks calling Hyatt a one-trick pony because of his speed, though […]
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jalin Hyatt is one of the fastest players in the nation with his 40 time in the 4.3 range.
Hyatt has shown off his speed this season by regularly blowing past defenders for long touchdown receptions.
I haven't really heard folks calling Hyatt a one-trick pony because of his speed, though I'm sure some opposing fans may hold that opinion.
But just to be sure, that potential narrative was squashed this week by AtoZ Sports Film Room's James Foster.
Foster broke down the film from Tennessee's win over Alabama (a must-watch by the way) and he pointed out something about Hyatt's game that I hadn't noticed.
Hyatt doesn't just get into his top-end speed and blow past defenders. There's much more nuance to how he plays.
Foster pointed out at the 1:44 mark of the video that on one route, Hyatt transitioned between three different speeds. The route resulted in a 60-yard touchdown reception for Hyatt and the Vols.
"From an NFL draft perspective, Jalin Hyatt still runs a pretty limited route tree," said Foster. "But he's a lot more of a technician than most of these one-dimensional deep threats that you see in each [draft] class. He's more than just a linear athlete. He can cut quickly and he has great control of his speed."
Hyatt isn't a "system wide receiver" like we used to see in Mike Leach's Air Raid offenses at times. He's a legitimate NFL draft prospect. And he's really just scratching the surface of how good he can be.
With Cedric Tillman on his way back from an ankle injury, and Hyatt seemingly improving every week, I have a feeling we haven't seen this Tennessee offense at its best yet.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
