Pair of college coordinators compare Cedric Tillman, Jalin Hyatt following NFL Draft

After an impressive breakout season, the Tennessee Volunteers had five players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, all of which were selected within the first three rounds. Two of those players were their wideouts, with Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman both being selected in the third round.

Both wideouts have different skill sets that they’ll be bringing to the table of their new teams, as Hyatt was selected No. 73 overall by the New York Giants and Tillman was the very next pick at No. 74 to the Cleveland Browns. And two anonymous college coordinators compared and contrasted the two with ESPN following the draft.

“Tillman’s got better hands,” an SEC defensive coordinator said. “Hyatt, when he was wide open, they could use his speed. They did a great job of creating open receivers. When he had to make contested catches, he struggled. Tillman will do a good job. Those big, physical guys do well.”

“His route tree’s bigger. He’s just got more to offer,” another anonymous Power 5 coordinator added.

Tillman seems to be preferred over Hyatt by some coordinators, as he battled injuries throughout the season last year and was featured on a limited basis in Tennessee’s offense. He appeared in just six games last season, recording 37 catches for 417 yards and three touchdowns. But in his last game of the season he looked like he did in the 2021 season, hauling in nine receptions for 81 yards and two touchdown grabs versus South Carolina.

He had a breakout year in 2021, and his production from that season is what likely got him drafted in the first place. He was the Vols’ leading receiver with 93 catches, 931 yards, and nine touchdowns on the season, ending the season by notching 100+ receiving yards in five of his last six games.

His injury struggles kept him from building on his breakout season, but allowed Hyatt to have one of his own. Hyatt became college football’s premiere deep ball threat in 2022, racking up 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdown grabs. He took home the Biletnikoff Award at the end of the season, awarded to most outstanding receiver in college football.

Hyatt tied for second in the nation in touchdown receptions, fifth in receiving yards, and ranked first in yards per catch amongst wideouts with 60 or more receptions on the season averaging 18.9 yards per reception.

He may not be as polished as Tillman at the wide receiver position, but there’s not doubt that Hyatt’s speed and playmaking ability stand out. Both former Volunteers will join teams that are in desperate need of some explosive playmakers at wide receiver, and hopefully, they can both provide that like they did in Knoxville.