Jalin Hyatt reacts to Biletnikoff win
Tennessee junior Jalin Hyatt’s record setting season was rewarded Thursday night as he was awarded the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s best receiver.
Hyatt leads the SEC in yards with 1,267 on 67 receptions. Hyatt is only 32 yards away from setting the Tennessee all time single season record currently held by Robert Meachem who had 1,298 yards in 2006.
The South Carolina native leads the nation in touchdown receptions with 15. As a sophomore, Hyatt battled injuries, confidence and desire as he had just 226 yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 receptions.
Hyatt burst onto the scene in the second year in Josh Heupel’s system after a sophomore campaign that was slowed by injury and saw him lose his job to now Chicago Bear Velus Jones, Jr.
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Hyatt committed to the game this off-season following the advice of Jones himself a year ago.
“Last year it was hard on me,” Hyatt stated. “I think I lost my confidence. I didn’t really know the offense as well as I know it this year. I wasn’t going as hard last year. Velus (Jones) helped me a lot when he was here. He was the guy who stood up and took over the role when I couldn’t. Just watching him and how he played receiver and what you can do when you are playing well. I think that was one of the biggest reasons (for changing). In high school, I didn’t really go through a lot of adversity because high school is kind of easy as far as football. When you get up here in the SEC, you are going against big time players, I needed to change my mindset.”
Hyatt beat out Oho State’s Mavin Harrison and Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson for the award that was announced Thursday night. Hyatt visited with the local media following the announcement.
