Quote from Jalin Hyatt shows exactly why he's been so good for the Tennessee Vols in 2022
Tennessee Vols junior wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has been a revelation this season. Hyatt hasn't just become a household name in SEC Country — he's become a household name nationally. The South Carolina native has exploded this season for 1,116 yards and 15 touchdowns through the first 10 games of the season. He's just 182 […]
Tennessee Vols junior wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has been a revelation this season.
Hyatt hasn't just become a household name in SEC Country — he's become a household name nationally.
The South Carolina native has exploded this season for 1,116 yards and 15 touchdowns through the first 10 games of the season. He's just 182 yards away from breaking Robert Meachem's Tennessee record for receiving yards in a season.
Hyatt has been elite this season for two reasons — his unreal physical skills and his mindset.
That mindset, specifically, has been incredibly impressive.
Hyatt holds himself to a high standard. So it shouldn't be a surprise that he was unhappy with himself on Saturday despite catching seven passes for 146 yards and a touchdown in Tennessee's 66-24 thrashing of Missouri.
The future NFL draft pick had two uncharacteristic drops in the first half against Mizzou.
And that's what was on Hyatt's mind after the game.
"It wasn't the best game for me personally today," said Hyatt after the Vols' win. "That's all I think about right now. I have to take the next day personally to better my game."
A lot of players would focus on the stat line and brush off the drops.
But not Hyatt. He holds himself to such a high standard that those drops will just cause him to work even harder this week to get better.
Drops happen. And Hyatt has been so sure-handed this season — he seemingly catches everything that Hendon Hooker throws his way — that it was shocking to see him drop a couple of passes.
Hyatt's body of work, however, tells us that those drops aren't him. They just prove he's human.
Is a big game on the way for Jalin Hyatt against South Carolina?
Next week's game against South Carolina could be a nightmare for the Gamecocks' secondary. Hyatt will go into Columbia with plenty of motivation.
Between wanting to get better because of the drops and the fact that South Carolina didn't offer him a scholarship coming out of high school (Hyatt grew up just outside of Columbia), it could be Hyatt's biggest game of the season.
(Will Muschamp essentially thought Hyatt was too skinny to be an SEC wide receiver.)
Good luck, South Carolina. Hyatt's the best wide receiver in the country when he doesn't have this kind of motivation.
With that motivation, we could see Hyatt on a whole different level next Saturday night in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
