NFL insider makes strong statement about where Vols WR Jalin Hyatt will be drafted
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has been a polarizing player during the pre-draft process this offseason. Some analysts question Hyatt's ability to thrive in a traditional NFL offense, while others love his big play abilities. ESPN's Matt Miller, one of the more well-known draft analysts in the business, falls in the camp that loves […]
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has been a polarizing player during the pre-draft process this offseason.
Some analysts question Hyatt's ability to thrive in a traditional NFL offense, while others love his big play abilities.
ESPN's Matt Miller, one of the more well-known draft analysts in the business, falls in the camp that loves Hyatt's explosive playmaking abilities.
Miller was asked this week which player he thinks will be selected higher than expected in the draft later this month.
And he thinks Hyatt is a name to watch.
From ESPN: Hyatt has been a top-32 player for me since the 2022 season ended, but that's more of an outlier than a consensus take. I'm standing firm, though — and I think Hyatt could be a top-25 selection. Wide receivers with high-end speed to stretch the field seemingly always rise on draft day, and Hyatt's production in the SEC should turn heads once coaches get involved in the process of stacking team boards. Hyatt averaged 18.9 yards per reception last year and scored 15 touchdowns en route to a Biletnikoff Award trophy for the nation's best receiver. He also couldn't be stopped by Nick Saban's Alabama defense; multiple scouts are still talking about his six catches for 207 yards and five touchdowns against the Crimson Tide.
Scouts and analysts can say whatever they want about Hyatt's route-running abilities (and to be clear, there's no evidence that Hyatt's route-running is "bad"…it's an unfair narrative that's formed), but it's impossible to ignore what he did against Alabama in 2022.
Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide had absolutely no answer for Hyatt last season. When the Vols needed to score a touchdown, Hyatt was there to deliver. And there was nothing Alabama could do to stop him.
Not many players have done that to Saban and Alabama. Hyatt has proved that he can thrive in the SEC, there's no reason to think he can't also thrive in the NFL.
