Vols Commit, Jalin Hyatt, adds to record-setting career at powerhouse Dutch Fork

The Tennessee Volunteers have played well enough to turn their season around after a disastrous start. The Vols currently sit at 5-5, one win away from bowl eligibility. That is an achievement that seemed highly unlikely after a 1-4 start to the season. Many things have contributed to Tennessee getting things turned around during the season, but one of the leading factors has been the improved production from the wide receiver position. Due to issues at the quarterback position, from poor play to injuries, to youth in some of the signal callers, the Vols have been limited at times with their passers. That said, once Tennessee got the season turned, it was in large part to those quarterbacks as a group being able to utilize the best position group on the Tennessee roster. Seniors Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway have shown what analysts always expected of them, and Josh Palmer has continued to dazzle with long, highlight-reel catches. All the Vols needed was for someone that could get them the ball, and the Tennessee stars have used the opportunity to shine. While these impressive games from the receivers have been nice to see, the fact remains that Jennings, Callaway, and Tyler Byrd have all exhausted their eligibility at the end of this season. Adding to the depth issues after this season, Tennessee also had underclassmen receivers Jaquez Jones and Jordan Murphy leave the program in the season. The Vols even convinced senior Brandon Johnson to take a redshirt to provide depth for next season. That attrition means that the Vols have a huge need in their 2020 class for immediate impact wide receivers. While Tennessee is continuing to work to add other wideouts to their class, one of their most steadfast commits throughout this season looks poised to make an impact when he arrives on campus after making some impressive history of his own on Friday night.

Jalin Hyatt is a wide receiver at Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, South Carolina, the same school that produced Tennessee cornerback Bryce Thompson. Hyatt and the Silver Foxes are currently in pursuit of their fourth consecutive state championship, as well as another undefeated season. Hyatt has been one of the primary weapons for an incredibly potent Dutch Fork offense this season. In eleven games this season, Hyatt has reeled in 46 receptions to the tune of 1003 yards and 19 touchdowns. That totals out to 21.8 yards per catch this season for Hyatt. As the Silver Foxes won their first-round playoff game, those numbers are still going to increase. There is also one other thing to factor in when looking at Hyatt’s numbers: He has only played in the second half of one game all season long. Hyatt has put together an impressive season at Dutch Fork, but taking his numbers into account with the limited snaps he has seen makes them even more impressive. With his four-touchdown night on Friday, Hyatt also notched an impressive career record, snagging his 50th touchdown as a Silver Fox, and becoming the school’s career leader in the category. Hyatt also holds the all-time receiving yardage mark with 3,334 yards.

For Hyatt to secure that career mark shows what an asset he has been to Dutch Fork not only this season but for his career there. He has been a model of consistency and a significant contributor to two state championship teams as well as his current team, who are heavy favorites to win again. Hyatt finished his sophomore season with 947 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he improved on those numbers as a junior, ending the season with 1316 yards and 21 touchdown grabs. Those numbers helped Hyatt earn a four-star rating with some scouting services, while others still list him as a three-star prospect. After another outstanding season, showing his consistency and ability to be a primary weapon for a team, Hyatt should be a prime candidate to gain his fourth star across the board and climb higher in the rankings. Hyatt’s numbers show that he is not a flash in the pan at receiver. He has shown growth in his numbers, has developed as a player, and is an invaluable asset to his team.

Any player that can get themselves on the field as a sophomore at a program like Dutch Fork obviously has some serious physical talent. For Hyatt, primary talent is elite speed. Hyatt has been laser timed clocking a 4.27 forty-yard dash, which would put him among some of the fastest players currently in college football. He forces teams to cover him with multiple defenders, and his speed will ensure that even in the SEC, teams have to continue to cover him that way. That speed also means that Hyatt has the chance to take a fairly routine play, like a swing pass or a bubble screen, and turn it into a long touchdown with just a block or two. That game-changing speed is something that can’t be taught, and Hyatt will bring that dimension to Knoxville, giving Jim Chaney something he hasn’t had yet at receiver in his second stint on Rocky Top. Still, you can only score so many touchdowns by just being fast, and Hyatt has much more to bring to the table than his speed. At six feet even and one hundred seventy-five pounds, Hyatt is not a big receiver like Jennings or Callaway, but he isn’t a small pass catcher either. Tennessee Wide Receiver Coach Tee Martin threw the ball to several receivers that were built very much like Hyatt, one of the more notable ones being Peerless Price, who along with Joey Kent, are good comparisons for Hyatt’s build and skillset. Hyatt brings that speed, but he also brings an incredibly advanced route tree and an understanding of setting up routes to the table. Hyatt is a technician with his routes, working himself open with his cuts and constantly keeping defenders off footed. Hyatt comes off the line for all his routes exactly the same, and he has sharp, sudden breaks when he makes them. He also makes his fakes on double moves look exactly like the first one to two steps of the actual route. Combined with his speed, this makes Hyatt a nightmare to cover one-on-one, as his career numbers attest. When teams try to bracket him with zone coverages, Hyatt shows that he is much more than a deep-ball specialist, excelling at finding the soft spots in zone coverage, presenting his quarterback with a target, and snatching the ball on the move. Add in excellent hands, impressive leaping ability, which makes Hyatt more of a red zone threat than his height would initially lead you to believe, and outstanding run after the catch ability, and it is evident that Jalin Hyatt is a consistent, complete wide receiver, capable of doing all that is asked of him.

Hyatt will leave Dutch Fork as likely the most prolific receiver to ever suit up for the Silver Foxes, which is no small feat. During his four years, he has shown the ability to score on every type of route a receiver can be asked to run, against any type of coverage that can be thrown at him. His success is a product of natural talent, excellent coaching, and a dedication to excellence in the details of his craft. Hyatt is one of the most prolific receivers in this class and also one of the most consistent. He has shown the impact he can make over multiple seasons, and Tennessee can feel confident in what they are landing with Hyatt, a polished receiver that is likely to make an immediate impact with so many departures at receiver. Hyatt should be a unanimous four-star prospect by the time he signs, his senior season and career numbers, along with his film, showing that the Dutch Fork record holder deserves to climb the rankings further before arriving in Knoxville to try and make his mark on a new set of record books.

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