WR Jalin Hyatt, scouting reports

[MightyGiants]

HEIGHT
6' 0''
WEIGHT
176 lbs
ARM
32 1/2''
HAND
9''

SCOUTING REPORT
By Greg Cosell

Background:
Hyatt played 3 years at Tennessee after coming out of South Carolina as a 4-star recruit. He finished his college career with an outstanding 2022 season (67-1,267-18.9-15 TD) in which he was named First Team All-American (the first Tennessee WR in the history of the program to achieve that) and win the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in the FBS.

Hyatt predominantly lined up in a wide slot alignment to the field just inside the numbers, but there were also snaps in which he lined in the slot to the boundary. All of Hyatt's targets, until the last game of the season vs. Vanderbilt, he aligned to the multiple receiver side of the formation. Against Vanderbilt there were snaps with Hyatt as the single receiver.


Positives:
Outstanding straight-line speed to run by and get on top of corners. A glider with explosive acceleration.
Did an excellent job threatening off-coverage corners and then running intermediate routes with the cushion.
On routes, he showed some nuance and refinement in his vertical stem and at top of the stem to separate.
Showed good hands with the ability to make tough catches on the move away from his frame. Strong hands.
Consistently showed the easy ability to track the deep ball effectively. Outstanding hand-eye coordination.

Negatives:
Ran a very limited route in Tennessee's spread. Can he do more of that, and be volume target at the next level?
Scheme allowed to be wide open on many of his targets. A lot of space around him when he caught the ball.
Run-after-catch a legitimate question. Did not see Hyatt do that on his 67 receptions, no physicality or strength.
Did not see Hyatt work versus press coverage given Tennessee's scheme. Can he do that versus NFL corners?

Bottom Line:
Hyatt is not a difficult transition to the NFL given what he put on video at Tennessee in 2022. He is an explosive, vertical receiver with both short area burst and accelerating deep speed that often looks deceptive due to the easy gliding feel to his running style. Hyatt is the true definition of a vertical dimension, and there is no doubt his speed - with the concurrent issues it presents to defenses and his ability to change games with explosive plays - will be in high demand at the next level.

What consistently stood out watching Hyatt's video was how quickly he broke down the cushions of off-coverage corners and ran by them with seemingly little effort, and then the ability to track the ball effectively into his hands, and his hands were a definite strength of his game. There were traits you did not see on video due to the nature of Tennessee's wide-open, spread passing game. Those will be projections as you look to transition Hyatt to the NFL, and those included the ability to work effectively versus press coverage and the ability to run-after-catch other than catching the ball on the move in open space, which happened often in 2022.

Hyatt's pure speed and explosive vertical ability will get him drafted in the top 40 (and quite likely higher), but there is no question that at this point he is not a complete receiver. Can he become a more versatile high volume target as he develops in the NFL? That remains to be seen. Some might see Hyatt comparing favorably to Will Fuller when he came out of Notre Dame as a first-round pick, and some might see a legitimate comparison to Desean Jackson.

33rd Team

SCOUTING REPORT
By The 33rd Team

Positives:
Polished receiver who can run every route a team will ask him to do.
Dynamic playmaker who can beat you catching a 5-yard crossing route or a 75-yard post.
Fluid athlete great with speed and quickness to win reps.
Great footwork to release off the line and separate from his defender when in man coverage.
Very good instincts to read the defense and find holes in coverage to get open.
Consistent and reliable hands that a quarterback will trust.

Negatives:
Slender build, will only allow him to put on so much muscle.
Strength in contested catch situations is lacking.

Bottom Line:
Jalin Hyatt is an exceptional athlete who is a fluid mover with an excellent combination of speed and quickness. He has fluid hips to snap into his cuts while running in and out routes. Hyatt can beat you over the top by running past you or underneath with great footwork. He can run every route a team may think about asking him adding to his versatility. He is a natural hands catcher, catching the ball away from his body. He can beat press off the line with his quickness while strength is a little bit of a concern. Hyatt's top-end speed and quickness sometimes masks this flaw as he is open more often than not.

Hyatt is a very dynamic and explosive playmaker who can win in so many different ways. He can beat you underneath for five yards, run a curl route for 15 yards, or run by you for 75 yards over the top. He is a natural receiver and plays the position well, he is more than just the best athlete on the field. Hyatt has very good instincts to read his defender, finding success both inside and outside. He is an ideal Z receiver in the NFL who will make an impact quickly on Sundays.


Pro Comparison: DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles, 10th Overall Pick in 2021 NFL Draft)

McGinn

5. JALIN HYATT, Tennessee (6-0, 180, 4.38, 2): Third-year junior backed up in 2020-'21 before starting all 12 games in '22. "Straight-up speed guy," one scout said. "Has no route development. He's all gas and no brakes. He's all about speed." Showed off that speed with his glorious five-touchdown game Oct. 15 in the Volunteers' 52-49 upset of Alabama. "After that everybody just threw him up there in the first round," said a second scout. "But he's so incomplete. He's a one-trick pony but his trick is speed, and people are always going to gravitate to it. He played in the slot at Tennessee so he had a lot of favorable matchups. Almost uncovered at times so he was on a runway. Had a big year. If you look at the dimension of just taking the top off a defense, maybe he's your guy. But getting in and out of breaks, being physical and not getting pulled and tugged and covered, he's not any of those things." Finished with 108 receptions for 1,769 (16.4) and 19 TDs, including 15 last season. "He's not even the best receiver on his own team," said a third scout. "He's a complete one-trick pony. Yes, he can run. His deep speed is real, but that's all it is. He's a total product of the system. He doesn't have to get open. He's not strong. He will struggle against physicality. He's not very tough." His broad jump of 11-3 led the wideouts. From Irmo, S.C.

NFL.com

Hyatt waited his turn to become a star receiver for the Vols even though he was a four-star recruit and left Dutch Fork High School in South Carolina as a four-time state champion and its all-time leader in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He contributed as a true freshman (20-276-13.8, two TDs in 10 games) and sophomore (21-226-10.8, two TDs in 13 games) and started once each season. He broke out as a junior, earning first-team Associated Press All-American accolades by leading the Vols with 67 receptions, ranking fifth nationally with 1,267 receiving yards (18.9 per) and tying for second in the FBS with 15 touchdowns in 12 starts. -- by Chad Reuter

Overview
Long, slender wideout with deep speed that could force defensive coordinators to alter coverage considerations. Hyatt's gliding gait disguises explosive acceleration that can lead to easy separation on deep throws. However, he does display inconsistency on contested catches comes. Hyatt is ordinary getting in and out of intermediate breaks and might be best with a limited route tree full of slants, crossers and a series of field-stretching patterns. Hyatt is an instantly credible WR2 with the ability to make a huge impact, but production could be erratic due to the limitations of his game.
Strengths
Top-end speed creates tension for defensive coordinators.
Run game will see lighter boxes out of defense's respect for his explosiveness.
Tears into cushions and rockets past off-man coverage.
Maintains spacing from physical coverage getting into the route.
Runs focused vertical routes at crisp angles.
Glides into acceleration mode at route stems to separate.
Gets pitch-and-catch opportunities underneath against off-man.
Finished second in FBS with 15 receiving touchdowns.
Willing and effective as a perimeter blocker.
Weaknesses
Scheme created a variety of free releases for him.
Route tree somewhat limited.
Lean frame, lacking in play strength.
Knocked off course when press punch finds him.
Lacks deception in his short and intermediate routes.
Unsuccessful holding ground when catch is contested.
Sources Tell Us

"When you have someone who can run like Hyatt you get explosive catches but it also really benefits your running game because safeties can't get involved as much. He reminds me a lot of watching Will Fuller when he was healthy." -- Director of scouting for NFC team

SIS

Scouting Report
Overall
Jalin Hyatt is the starting slot receiver in Tennessee's up-tempo, RPO-spread offense. He played in 35 career games with 14 starts. Hyatt is a very good athlete who has legitimate deep speed as well as a good burst. He is an impressive leaper and has fluid hips. While he has fairly standard height, he has an extremely light frame that will need to add muscle to withstand an NFL season. His competitive fire comes and goes as he runs routes where he may be targeted with gusto, but he takes plays off when he knows he is lower on the progression. He is a very willing blocker despite his size and attacks defenders when asked.

Pass Game
Hyatt's best traits revolve around his ability to stretch the field. He has the deep speed to stretch the field and the leaping ability to high-point the ball. His release has purpose, but has not been tested much at the collegiate level. Defenders gave a lot of cushion due to his speed or the offensive scheme would stack him to help with his release. The footwork and burst are there, but he will need to work in varying releases to increase his success. He had a very defined role at Tennessee which limited his ability to showcase his traits. Well over half of his routes were either curls, flys, or screens, and he did not get to show very many 45-degree cuts, 90-degree cuts, or double moves in this role. Hyatt's route running is still a question mark, and his lack of route savvy does not help either. He often looks to be heading to a point on crossing routes and does not adjust his route to account for the defenders, often running into the most heavily patrolled area of the field. Most of his separation comes from pure speed or quick breaks on the top of curls, so there is room for growth to capitalize on his ability. Hyatt had limited opportunities to track and high-point the ball, but looked sufficient when asked and has impressive leaping ability. He has sufficient hands and extends from his body to catch the ball, but can be prone to concentration drops as he looks upfield too early on occasion. His ability after the catch is a little underwhelming given his speed as he rarely makes defenders miss one-on-one. His speed allows him to get upfield quickly and the right offensive mind can improve his ability after the catch. His light frame can be a concern as he is knocked off of his routes or at the catch point by stronger defenders and struggles to break through contact after the catch.

Run Game
Hyatt is a very willing blocker in the run game. He squares the defender up and attacks his block. His light frame limits the effectiveness of the block, but he is certainly sufficient. Due to his speed, he was targeted on screens to get the ball in his hands and could be viewed as an extension of the run game on these plays.

Last Word
Hyatt projects as a No. 3 wide receiver who fits best in the slot. His light frame and struggles with more physical defenders make it difficult to envision him as an outside receiver. He was cast as a one-trick pony at Tennessee that may not have highlighted his best traits, and the right game plan could unlock his full potential. He should be a favorite target on 3rd downs due to his quickness and ability to stretch the field. He has no special teams experience and should not be viewed as a contributor.

Brugler

STRENGTHS: Elite straight-line speed to consistently run by defenders and win vertically ... has access to a pull-away gear both before and after the catch ... his 2022
film is well-stocked with explosive plays, mostly on vertical slot routes (20 catches of 20-plus yards, seven receptions of 50-plus yards) ... closes cushion in a blink and
understands leverage ... displays premium trust in his hands to attack the ball before it gets to his body ... tracks the ball naturally and runs underneath it (his 58.3
percent success rate on targets 20-plus yards ranked No. 1 in the FBS in 2022) ... can climb the ladder to take the ball out of the air ... has worked hard to improve his
play strength ... has developed into a functional blocker and continues to improve in this area ... football training has been a priority for him since childhood, and he
can take hard coaching ... overcame adversity from his first two seasons and made substantial improvements with his confidence ... had a "wow" final season and set
the school records for touchdown catches in a game (five vs. Alabama) and in a season (15).
WEAKNESSES: Underdeveloped route runner who was asked to play a specific role in college with heavy doses of quick throws and linear patterns ... has some
tightness in his hips and must improve his ability to sink at the top of routes ... little jam experience and faces a learning curve vs. NFL press coverage ... slender build
and doesn't have the frame to get too much bigger ... speedy but not shifty as a ball carrier ... should be able to translate his speed to special teams, but has marginal
experience on coverages ... was basically a slot only in the Tennessee offense ... missed some playing time after a concussion (September 2021) ... only one season of
substantial production.
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Tennessee, Hyatt was primarily an inside wide receiver in head coach Josh Heupel's up-tempo, spread offense (89 percent of his
snaps came in the slot). After two "development" years in Knoxville, he had a prolific junior season with a school-record 15 touchdowns, becoming the first
Volunteers receiver to win the Biletnikoff Award and just the 13th unanimous All-American in Tennessee history (first since Eric Berry). Hyatt saw a lot of free releases
and didn't run an NFL route tree, but he consistently stretches the field vertically, and cornerbacks struggle to match his vertical burst. Along with his elite
acceleration, he has an uncanny ability to track and adjust to the deep ball, flashing a "go-and-get-it" gear – he led the FBS in receptions of 30-plus yards (15), 40-plus
yards (11), 50-plus yards (seven) and 60-plus yards (five). Overall, Hyatt isn't a well-rounded receiver and won't become one overnight, but he is exceptional in two
key areas (easy speed and confident ball skills), and his potential for an explosive play at any moment changes the way defenses prepare. In the right role, he can
be a productive home-run hitter for an NFL offense.


Draft Bible

Evaluation: An elite vertical threat who offers some upside on schemed touches, Hyatt is a lean slot receiver who runs a
limited route tree in an unconventional offense with an underdeveloped release package. Hyatt possesses legitimate
track speed. He plays with excellent foot speed, which helps him set up cuts in his routes and win against press
coverage. The junior offers instant burst off the line of scrimmage with lethal acceleration to stack defensive backs. His
long strides and explosiveness help him quickly eliminate the defensive back's cushion when he faces off coverage. Hyatt
puts in effort blocking for wide receiver screens and run plays, but his lack of play-strength prevents him from excelling
in this role. Fortunately, there's room to add mass to Hyatt's frame, assuming it doesn't sap his explosiveness. He
appears to have sufficient arm length to expand his catch radius and make receptions outside his frame. Some of Hyatt's
best wins come on post, curl, sluggo and go routes. He tracks the ball well and has examples of soft-hand catches. Hyatt
scares college defenses when put in motion and his speed makes him an excellent option for clear-out routes. Hyatt's
play-strength shows up against press coverage. He needs to fill out his underdeveloped release package and become
more comfortable hand-fighting with defenders. He ran a limited route tree in Tennessee's space-manufacturing offense
and benefitted from primarily playing in the slot. Drops remain a slight issue, several examples of body catches.
Background: Invited to NFL Combine. A 1.50 10-yard split, 40-inch vertical jump, 11-3 broad jump, 9-inch hands, 32.5-
inch arms, 77.5-inch wingspan. Played at Irmo High and was a four-star recruit. Repped by CAA.

[MightyGiants]

JALIN HYATT
WR, NEW YORK GIANTS
Jalin Hyatt
Giants selected Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt with the No. 73 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
A freshman non-factor under lame duck coach Butch Jones in 2020, Hyatt (6'0/176) suffered through an injury-marred 2021 under Josh Heupel. Then he put everything together in Heupel's RPO/play-action heavy spread in 2022, exploding for 67/1,267/15 en route to first-team All-American honors. Hyatt is something of a tough eval because he's a speedster who tested "slower" than expected at 4.40 while much of his college film features him running in wide-open space thanks to Heupel's beautifully-designed offense. He also bombed his agility drills in the pre-draft process. Hyatt does ramp up quickly, creating space both deep and at the short-to-intermediate levels. He is a very dangerous man in the manufactured touch department. Still five months shy of his 22nd birthday, Hyatt has the makings of a classic boom/bust prospect at the NFL level. Given the Giants' embarrassment of riches exclusively at slot receiver, Hyatt may struggle to earn a significant role as a rookie. Still, if he lives up to his potential, he will be New York's most explosive wideout.

Apr 28, 2023, 9:48 PM ET

[TONKA56]

Meh

[MightyGiants]

https://twitter.com/BobbySkinner_/status/1652130420232794113

[Bob In PA]

To our knowledgeable Giants historians: Did the Giants ever draft a Biletnikoff Award winner previously? Bob

[MightyGiants]

To our knowledgeable Giants historians: Did the Giants ever draft a Biletnikoff Award winner previously? Bob

I cheated and looked it up.  The answer is no, but they did have one play for them

2009   Golden Tate

[uconnjack8]

Giants definitely need someone to keep safeties honest and he fits the bill.

Seems like all these scouts agree on that one ability and not much else.

[Bob In PA]

I see at last one person compared him to Davonte Smith.

Yesterday Schoen make an oblique reference to the comparison when asked about Hyatt's lack of bulk.

I can't find the quote but essentially Schoen said there's a guy "down the road" who is a comparable WR.

Bob

[MightyGiants]

I see at last one person compared him to Davonte Smith.

Yesterday Schoen make an oblique reference to the comparison when asked about Hyatt's lack of bulk.

I can't find the quote but essentially Schoen said there's a guy "down the road" who has a comparable WR.

Bob

Q. A couple of the knocks on Jalin, a little bit slight, what people are saying. When you look at the frame and his body type what gives you the confidence that maybe he can grow into it, or he can play with that body type in the NFL?

JOE SCHOEN: Yeah, I think he's still young. There's a similar body type down the road that we play twice a year, that's a good player. (He) was drafted much higher. But again, you look at it, you look at the group, you know, how tall they are, how long they are, thick they are, and you know, I know the offensive staff and Dabs, they do a great job of putting the guys in the best position to succeed; and what are the routes they run best, how can we accentuate what they do well, and then they will kind of formulate the offense around that. I think he'll be fine.