Josh Heupel praises development of Jalin Hyatt as school record nears

Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has been having a monster season for the Volunteers, leading the SEC in receiving yards and the nation in touchdown catches. Hyatt is just one touchdown catch shy of matching the Volunteer’s single-season record touchdown receptions, and head coach Josh Heupel was asked if he expected such a dominant season out of him.

“We thought that he would perform at a really high level, I said that and we thought that at the beginning of the season,” Heupel said. “Obviously last week was a massive week, last two or three weeks have been huge for him and continues to play really good football. He’s been great in everything that we’re been asking him to do.”

Hyatt’s signature game of the season was his performance in Tennessee’s 52-49 upset victory over Alabama, where he hauled in five touchdown passes, which was more than he had in his previous two seasons combined.

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Wideout Cedric Tillman was the Volunteers leading pass catcher last season, and was poised to be again this year, but has only played in Tennessee’s first three games due to injury. In stepped Hyatt, who assumed the WR1 role in historic fashion, as he’s now on the brink of breaking a single-season record that coach Heupel was not so informed about.

“Would I say that I saw him breaking the school record and touchdowns? I don’t even know what the number is, what is it?” Heupel asked.

A reporter let Heupel know the record was 13, held by Marcus Nash in the 1997 season. Hyatt’s 12 touchdown grabs make him just one away from tying and two away from breaking the record, which he has plenty of time to accomplish. The Vols still have five games remaining in their regular season schedule, giving Hyatt not only time to tie and beat the record, but potentially shatter it.

“I don’t think you ever think about those things, you just think about the player himself, and he’s had good opportunities but he’s been prepared to advantage of those opportunities. He’s playing at a really high level,” Heupel said.

Getting a record-breaking receiving season out of a player who ranked fifth on the team in touchdown catches a season ago with two is definitely hard to predict, but it seems like Heupel and the Volunteers are a little bit less surprised because of the hard work and preparation put in by Hyatt.