Jalin Hyatt - WTH?

[NO SIR EEE]

How old are you? The system did help him and that's no knock on him. But in pure talent, he's not even the best UT receiver of the last 10 years. Again, no knock. UT has had (and squandered) some really talented guys. Malone, Callaway, and Palmer all fall in that group.

Must not be too old, he left out Joey Kent and Marcus Nash as well lol

 

[sjt18]

BTW, more surprised that Hooker wasn't taken in the late 1st round than Hyatt.

You also have to look at those positions differently. You have several WRs in your rotation but only one QB. WRs taken in later rounds have a legit shot at getting on the field. Palmer has had a nice start to his career after being drafted in the 3rd round. Jennings was taken in the 7th round. Callaway was undrafted and has still had a productive 3 year career.

 

[sjt18]

Must not be too old, he left out Joey Kent and Marcus Nash as well lol

Yeah. I love Hyatt but there is a pretty long list of WRs that were more likely to be UT's all time best. Stalworth was pretty amazing. Price was probably a better version of Hyatt.

 

[DaddyChad]

I can see the success of Heupel's offense hurting Hyatt some with the talk of being a system player. A few hundred yards and some tds weren't due to Hyatt's route running, catching ability, or taking the ball from defenders. They were from busted coverage due to confusion on the defense and the nearest defender was 5-10 yards away when he made the catch.

It's not Hyatt's fault that that's how things shook out, but being a smaller wide receiver without special speed, I can see why he didn't get taken in the 1st.

Pretty much this and him really breaking out this year. I think if he had a more extensive resume he would be higher as well.

 

[lukeneyland]

How old are you? The system did help him and that's no knock on him. But in pure talent, he's not even the best UT receiver of the last 10 years. Again, no knock. UT has had (and squandered) some really talented guys. Malone, Callaway, and Palmer all fall in that group.

I’m in my late 20’s. Been watching every game since like 2003, so I understand I don’t have the depth of recollection that some of y’all do. But still I’ve never seen anyone at anywhere do what he did to a Saban defense

 

[WilcoVolsFan]

And yet it seems those experts are wrong more times than they're right.

Versus what? Dudes on sports message boards w/an uneducated opinion?

 

[OrangeTsar]

When you have had two decades like the Vols have had, it’s easy to see disrespect everywhere, even where no is intended. All we can do is just keep developing the players and the program and winning games. The rest will eventually take care of itself. It will take a while to wash away the stench of the previous few coaches and ADs

 

[sjt18]

I’m in my late 20’s. Been watching every game since like 2003, so I understand I don’t have the depth of recollection that some of y’all do. But still I’ve never seen anyone at anywhere do what he did to a Saban defense

He's a terrific player. But the system did give him some opportunities. To call him the GOAT, I think you have to account for the system at least some.

What some of the players us old guys remember would do playing for Heupel would be obscene. Willie Gault wasn't just fast. He was a world class sprinter who unlike many guys with that kind of speed... could catch a football. But the style of play was much different then.

A few more I didn't mention that you'd have to consider are Patterson, Hunter, and D Moore.

UT has had some incredible WRs. Hyatt is the latest rendition.

 

[sjt18]

Versus what? Dudes on sports message boards w/an uneducated opinion?

Well, no. Versus reality after things play out.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

He’s the best receiver in UT history in my opinion. I still can’t wrap my mind around what he did to the Bama scum

That’s some pretty high praise. I don’t think I could go that far. Hyatt played very well this past year, obviously, but We’ve had some incredibly talented guys at the position . The thing that he did that makes me the most proud of him is that he put in the work. He could’ve pouted after having a subpar 2021, but he put in the work and won the Biletnikoff.

 

[05_never_again]

It's one of the stranger player obsessions I can remember. Levis may turn into a decent pro, but the hype around him being a top 5 pick was inexplicable. Top 5 QBs don't go 7-6 and throw for 100 yards against Vanderbily their Senior year.

Levis was one this year's guys that teams hype up throughout the pre-draft process and ends up being used to misdirect/headfake other teams. There is usually at least one most years, but it seems like teams went over the top with it this year. Anthony Richardson was too, but someone actually ended up drafting him high.

 

[GAVol]

Levis was one this year's guys that teams hype up throughout the pre-draft process and ends up being used to misdirect/headfake other teams. There is usually at least one most years, but it seems like teams went over the top with it this year. Anthony Richardson was too, but someone actually ended up drafting him high.

I think I'm more surprised that AR got drafted top 5 than I am that Levis fell out of the 1st round. That's a big roll of the dice for a project.

 

[utvols74]

I’m in my late 20’s. Been watching every game since like 2003, so I understand I don’t have the depth of recollection that some of y’all do. But still I’ve never seen anyone at anywhere do what he did to a Saban defense

...and if I'm not mistaken, didn't his performance tie an SEC record for the most TDs in one game?

 

[buckfama]

Until he broke out last season, Hyatt was more than likely an UFA.

The fact that he's getting gdrafted speaks volumes about the development that these players are receiving now. Any players drafted helps us recruiting wise.

Heaven knows we haven't had many get drafted the last few years.

 

[05_never_again]

I think I'm more surprised that AR got drafted top 5 than I am that Levis fell out of the 1st round. That's a big roll of the dice for a project.

AR reminds me a lot of JaMarcus Russell, except he had a less impressive college career. There were lots of warning signs about JR but at least he was a good college QB.

When commentators are asked what is the most impressive thing about a player, and the answer is something that sounds superficially impressive but actually doesn't have anything to do with playing the position, it's a huge red flag. The thing from the pre-draft process I heard the most about AR was him hitting the ceiling of UF's indoor facility during his pro day. The "most impressive thing" about JR during the pre-draft process was him throwing the ball 70 yards in the air from his knees at his pro day. Those are cool party tricks, but does it mean he'll be great at playing the position in the NFL?

 

[utvols74]

He's great . . . but Gault, Hancock, Seivers, McGee, Pickens, Harper, Price, Washington, Kent, Nash, Meachem, Morgan . . .

UT was called "Wide Receiver U" for a reason. The tandem of Carl Pickens, Alvin Harper and Anthony Morgan in 1990 was the best WR corp I've ever seen in CFB. If Milton had those three to throw too, he'd break every CFB record (assuming his accuracy continues to improve)

 

[lukeneyland]

He's a terrific player. But the system did give him some opportunities. To call him the GOAT, I think you have to account for the system at least some.

What some of the players us old guys remember would do playing for Heupel would be obscene. Willie Gault wasn't just fast. He was a world class sprinter who unlike many guys with that kind of speed... could catch a football. But the style of play was much different then.

A few more I didn't mention that you'd have to consider are Patterson, Hunter, and D Moore.

UT has had some incredible WRs. Hyatt is the latest rendition.

It is true that it’s hard to account for how antiquated the old offensive systems were. Some guys that are also in the conversation at least for me include, Price, Nash, Patterson, Meachem,. The older guys would be more familiar with the 90s guys

 

[lukeneyland]

UT was called "Wide Receiver U" for a reason. The tandem of Carl Pickens, Alvin Harper and Anthony Morgan in 1990 was the best WR corp I've ever seen in CFB. If Milton had those three to throw too, he'd break every CFB record (assuming his accuracy continues to improve)

Pickens is definitely a good pick

 

[Jimbobcooter88]

How is Jain Hyatt not in the first 3 picks at wide receiver? Unbelievable.

J
Hyatt is one my favorite vols ever! His mom was bleeding orange and defending ut at every Turn. could've left stayed and became a stud and had the best single game a WR has ever had at tennessee against the biggest rival with our previous best Linebacker playing on the other side.od times...what i think NFL scouts see
***IMO
Pros
-elite speed ( quickness, 2nd gear, very explosive)
- stretches defenses

Needs Work
- if he can add weight and keep his speed (cam smith - a physical db had a good day against him)
- struggled with drops early in his career and though he catches it he would bobble the ball so needs to work on that
-Being more physical off the line

Things that may have affected his status was he only had one really good year...along with the needs work things.... I think he can be a very good nfl wideout and hope he sets records.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I think I'm more surprised that AR got drafted top 5 than I am that Levis fell out of the 1st round. That's a big roll of the dice for a project.

The NFL drafts on what they consider to be the best after a couple of years of NFL coaching. In some cases they are correct, but they miss a lot, especially on QBs. They interesting part of all this is they miss on the allayers who are also the most expensive . That is why we see so many QBs drafted each year and at the most costly position. Sometimes, the players drafted at the QB position, should have been running backs. Tim Tebow comes to mind.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

J
Hyatt is one my favorite vols ever! His mom was bleeding orange and defending ut at every Turn. could've left stayed and became a stud and had the best single game a WR has ever had at tennessee against the biggest rival with our previous best Linebacker playing on the other side.od times...what i think NFL scouts see
***IMO
Pros
-elite speed ( quickness, 2nd gear, very explosive)
- stretches defense

Needs Work
- if he can add weight and keep his speed (cam smith - a physical db had a good day against him)
- struggled with drops early in his career and though he catches it he would bobble the ball so needs to work on that
-Being more physical off the line

Things that may have affected his status was he only had one really good year...along with the needs work things.... I think he can be a very good nfl wideout and hope he sets records.

All those items he needs to work on could and probably should have been accomplished if he had stayed anther year in college. Some players mature later than others and those who fit that category need to stay in college through their Senior year.

 

[WilcoVolsFan]

Well, no. Versus reality after things play out.

So essentially the complaint is things that are extremely difficult to predict and involve multitudes of data points and variable factors are hard even for experts to predict.

Wow, deep insight. Thanks!

(P.S. the experts on this still get it right more often than internetz loudmouths)

 

[butchna]

The NFL drafts on what they consider to be the best after a couple of years of NFL coaching. In some cases they are correct, but they miss a lot, especially on QBs. They interesting part of all this is they miss on the allayers who are also the most expensive . That is why we see so many QBs drafted each year and at the most costly position. Sometimes, the players drafted at the QB position, should have been running backs. Tim Tebow comes to mind.

Tebow would’ve been a horrible running back…same opinion I had for Steve Young. Most of the rushing yards stemmed from the physical mismatch when receivers were being covered downfield and it was down to him and a nickleback or pursuing linebacker. Lined up behind a quarterback with the defense keying on you removes that element and highlights your lack of burst out of the gate. I do believe if he’d have acknowledged reality and tried TE before his 30’s there was something potentially special there.

 

[butchna]

Versus what? Dudes on sports message boards w/an uneducated opinion?

Where’d you graduate?

 

[Boston Vol]

I remember back in the day when Jason Witten was projected to be a late first/early second round and fell all the way to the third round. He was the fifth tight end selected that year. How’d that work out for him? The cream always rises.