Jalin Hyatt focused on winning national championship, not NFL future
When Tennessee‘s Jalin Hyatt entered this season, he was not considered by many as one of the top wide receivers in the country. However, given his performance so far this year, one could easily make the case for him being one of the best in the nation. And with him currently in his junior season, the option to turn pro might be more lucrative for him now than ever before. But Hyatt is not worried about his NFL future or the draft or any of those things. He is focused on achieving the goal he and his teammates set out to accomplish this season — winning a national championship.
“Yeah, I’m just going to worry about the season,” said Hyatt when asked about his thoughts on his future at the next level. “Worrying about what we have to do and how we have to finish out for our goal. But with that situation, it’s something I would have to talk to my family about, coaches about. It’s a lot of things with that process. I will deal with that during the offseason when it comes up. But right now, I’m just focused on this season and these guys up here. I’m focused on getting to our goal, and that’s a national championship.”
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Through 10 games Hyatt put together quite the resume in his junior year. The Irmo, SC, native has recorded 51 catches for 970 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has more than doubled his output from each of his last two seasons significantly. But that does not matter right now. What matters is ensuring that Tennessee remains undefeated to close out the season, putting them in a prime position to earn a College Football Playoff berth.
Hyatt discusses touchdown route after ‘hiding’ behind offensive line
Missouri attempted to make Saturday’s contest with Tennessee a game, coming within four points midway through the third quarter, 28-24. That’s when the Volunteers executed the perfect play for a 68-yard pass to Jalin Hyatt for a touchdown.
Hyatt lined up in a wing-back position, just behind the left guard, and ran a flare route. To the surprise of everyone watching the game, Hyatt was left wide open, something no team should ever do. After the game, the Volunteers star discussed the play revealing that he was ‘hiding’ behind the offensive line.
“Yeah, I was hiding behind our left guard on the play,” said Hyatt. “We were just trying to get them confused with the zone that they were in. I saw the corner and followed Bru. So, it was just an easy pitch and catch for us. But I was hiding right behind the left guard on that play.
“We had that for the game plan. We had it as far as something else that we could throw out there that as far as tendencies that we had not shown them. And it worked out perfectly in how we executed; we did a good job on the play we had for that one. “