Jalin Hyatt making plays in Giants training camp after smooth transition to NFL

There has been no issue for Jalin Hyatt in making the transition from Josh Heupel’s offense at Tennessee to an NFL offense in New York Giants training camp. Giants head coach Brian Daboll said as much this week.

“I wouldn’t say it’s really that different,” Daboll told reporters. “I think Josh does a fantastic job there. He runs a lot of good football plays. He executed well, Jalin did. Everybody runs a different offense, it’s not exactly the same. Josh has had a pretty dynamic offense ever since he has coached.”

Hyatt was the No. 73 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, one of five Tennessee players drafted and one of four Vols who heard their names called in the third round. He signed with the Giants in May for a projected $5.6 million, including a $1.091 million signing bonus. 

Jalin Hyatt’s 2022 season: 67 catches, 1,267 yards, 15 TDs

During a breakout junior season, Hyatt caught 67 passes. He finished with 1,267 receiving yards and caught 15 touchdowns. He led Tennessee in all three categories, came within 31 yards of Tennessee’s single-season record for receiving yards and set a new record with the 15 touchdowns. 

Hyatt at times has flashed for the Giants during training camp — highlights here, here and here — but will have to continue to prove himself at the NFL level.

“It’s going to be up to him to go out there and show what he can do,” Daboll said earlier this week. “We have had two days. We had an OTA, but we’ve had two days. He has a lot of work ahead of him, just like everybody on the team does. Everybody will earn their role, whatever that may be.”

Hyatt left Wednesday’s training camp practice due to heat-related reasons but returned to practice on Thursday. The Giants held Friday’s practice early in the evening. 

“We will keep an eye on everybody and make sure we have the cooling tents and all these different drinks to help them stay hydrated,” Daboll said on Saturday. “I’m sure they will be sweating a lot out there today.”

Right tackle Darnell Wright, at No. 10 overall to the Chicago Bears, was the highest Tennessee player selected in this year’s NFL Draft. Quarterback Hendon Hooker started the run of Vols in the third round when the Detroit Lions selected him at No. 68 overall. 

Wide receiver Cedric Tillman was picked at No. 74 by the Cleveland Browns, giving Tennessee back-to-back players and back-to-back wide receivers drafted. Edge rusher Byron Young was picked by the Los Angeles Rams at No. 77 overall. 

‘(Wide receivers) are all different, just like every player’

Hyatt combined for 41 catches for 502 yards and four touchdowns over his freshman and sophomore seasons, appearing in 17 games during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. His All-American junior season ended with him becoming Tennessee’s first Biletnikoff Award winner, given annually to college football’s best wide receiver.

Daboll said this week that every wide receiver is different and has different adjustments to make as they enter the league.

“Regardless of the position, when you’re a rookie, there’s always an adjustment period,” he said. “I coached receivers early in my career for six years or somewhat. Drafted quite a bit of receivers. They’re all different, just like every player. Every position is different.

“So, the job of the coaching staff is, again, to get these guys as prepared as we can. To get them to buy into the program and do the right thing. Certainly, a lot of stuff to learn. That’s why we are here to try and help them the best we can. (Hyatt has) got to put the work in, too.”