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Jalin Hyatt points to his favorite moment of the 2022 season

Screenshot 2023-07-18 at 4.54.37 PMby:Riley Gates•12/11/22•

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COLUMBIA, SC - November 19: Tennessee Volunteers receiver Jalin Hyatt looks back towards the sideline in between plays during the second quarter of a college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, November 19, 2022 in Columbia, SC. (Photo by Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Not many players in college football had the type of season that Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt had. Because of that, Hyatt was an easy choice to be given the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver. At a recent press conference, Hyatt explained what the best moment of his 2022 season was.

“I will say my fifth touchdown against Bama, I think, was one of my favorites, just as far as the play-calling, I knew it was coming to me,” Hyatt said. “It was a lock-post in the slot and we had no routes on the outside. It was just a one-man route and I knew if we get that, we’ll tie it up and get a chance. Just looking at their leverage, looking how they were playing it, I knew we had a chance. Hook threw a perfect ball. Obviously, came down with it. I think that was the biggest moment and my favorite moment, just seeing how the crowd reacted and seeing how Vol Nation, how they came and erupted and everything after that play. That was my favorite, for sure.”

It is easy to see how Hyatt looks back at that Alabama game when he thinks about his season. In that upset win over the Crimson Tide, Hyatt had 207 yards and five touchdowns on just six pass receptions. That all played a part in Hyatt catching 67 passes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season.

Hyatt had a strong case to win the Biletnikoff, it was a battle for the award with two equally impressive receivers. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson had strong seasons that had them as finalists for the award as well. But in the end, it was the star Volunteer coming away with the award.

Hyatt part of a special season

With the play of Hyatt and others, the Volunteers pieced together a special season. Tennessee went 10-2 on the year but losses to Georgia and South Carolina derailed its chances at the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff.

Instead, Tennessee is bound for the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30. The Volunteers will face Clemson in Miami at 8 p.m. ET.