Hendon Hooker reveals what he'd look for when deciding to throw deep to Jalin Hyatt at Tennessee
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker and former UT wide receiver Jalin Hyatt made splash plays look easy last season. Nearly every game, Hooker and Hyatt connected for at least one deep pass. And in several games — including the memorable win against Alabama — the duo connected multiple times for explosive plays. The time […]
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker and former UT wide receiver Jalin Hyatt made splash plays look easy last season.
Nearly every game, Hooker and Hyatt connected for at least one deep pass. And in several games — including the memorable win against Alabama — the duo connected multiple times for explosive plays.
The time that Hooker and Hyatt put in together watching film was obviously a big part of the chemistry between the two star players.
Hooker, a third round selection by the Detroit Lions earlier this year, told NorthJersey.com this week that Hyatt and himself were usually the first two in Tennessee's facilities for afternoon meetings and the last two to leave.
"It was a lot of film watching together," said Hooker. "We watched a lot of film together. We were always the first two and last two for afternoon meetings. We'd be there in the facility, and he would catch [on the] JUGS [machine], I'd tell him, 'I'm not throwing you 1,000 balls. We can get on the same page mentally, but I'm not throwing you 1,000 balls in practice….His attention to detail is really what helped him make that leap forward."
The film work undoubtedly helped Hooker and Hyatt get on the same page. But the secret to when Hooker would decide to unleash a deep throw to Hyatt actually had very little to do with studying film.
Hooker told NorthJersey.com that if he looked downfield and saw Hyatt even with the defensive back, then he'd let it fly.
"Once I see he's even [with the defensive back], I can go and lay it up out there and he'll go get it," explained Hooker.
By now we know that Hyatt, who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, is a complete receiver — his Giants teammates have made that much clear.
But it's the elite speed that truly takes Hyatt's game to another level. The South Carolina native has a legitimate chance to be one of the biggest steals in this year's draft.
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Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
