2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalin Hyatt, WR, University of Tennessee
Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt is seen as a potential first-round pick. We break down the skill set he brings to the table here.
Jalin Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver last season. Hyatt is a speedy receiver who projects to come off the board either late first or early second round.
I break down the Tennessee star receiver’s strengths and weaknesses in this scouting report.
Overview
Birthdate: 9/25/2001
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0 1/8, 176 pounds
High School: Dutch Fork HS (Irmo, SC)
Recruit (247): 2020 class four star No. 197 Natl No. 33 WR
2022 Stats: 89 T 67 R 1,27 Yds 15 TD
2022 PFF: 77.4
2021 Stats: 32 T 21 R 226 Yds 2 TD
2021 PFF: 56.9
Strengths
- Deep Threat/Speed
- Won vertically more than any WR in this class in the 2022 season.
- Big play type of receiver – 11 40+ yard catches in 2022.
- Combine numbers show speed and explosiveness – 4.40 40 yard dash (86th percentile for WRs) 1.50 10 yard split (87th percentile) 40” vertical (92nd percentile) 11’3” broad jump (97th percentile).
- Speed at WR is highly coveted in today’s game as it allows you to create explosive plays, as well as stretch the field and open up space to work in the intermediate or short areas.
- Wins on slant/hitch routes
- Utilized the leverage/space he gains from the vertical threat he presents to win on slant and hitch routes.
- Not someone who you’d expect the run a full route tree in the NFL, but was effective in slant and hitch routes at Tennessee.
- 2022 Production
- Won the Biletnikoff Award for the best WR in college football this season.
- 67 catches 1,267 yards 15 TDs in 12 games in 2022.
- Went for 138+ yards in five games.
- Had historic performance in upset win over Alabama – 6 catches 207 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Weaknesses
- Product of Tennessee offense?
- Way he won at Tennessee may not translate to the NFL.
- Plenty of instances where he was schemed open – making it difficult to project receivers from that offense to the NFL.
- Questions about whether he can win vertically with the same consistency in the NFL.
- Fast WR, but 4.4 speed is much more common in an NFL defensive backfield than in a college football defensive backfield, even in the NFL.
- Someone you’re separating with the expectation of filling the deep threat, speed role not a No. 1 high volume type of receiver who can run a full route tree.
Final Evaluation
Pos Rank: WR6
Projection: Second Round
Hyatt presents one of the toughest evaluations of any player in this class as he ran a limited route tree at Tennessee, the speed he brings to the table makes him intriguing in the second round however.