What Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt said after winning the Biletnikoff Award

Everything Tennessee junior wide receiver Jalin Hyatt said Thursday night after winning the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to college football’s best receiver:

The moment when he found out he had won the award

“Obviously the time I heard my name, just grateful, blessed to be in this position. Not only that, being with my family, for them to be with me, to come up here, seeing the team behind me as well. That was one of the biggest things I got out of it. Yeah, I was nervous. Marvin Harrison is a great receiver, I think we all know that. He has a great career ahead of him. It was a great race between me and him, but I’m just blessed to have this opportunity to be up here in front of y’all.”

If he ever expected his season to turn out this way while he was putting in all the extra work during the offseason

“You know, as a receiver, this is what you dream of. This is where you put your goals at. That’s where I had my goals during the summer, when we had our offseason. Just trying to be the best version of myself. I made a promise to my coaches that I would try to be the best slot in the country. I just want to fulfill that. Just grateful to be up here. Just grateful to see my teammates here. It was a blessing.”

Jalin Hyatt on what’s next: ‘I’ll have a decision next week for everybody’

The single-season Tennessee touchdown record, closing in on the single-season Tennessee receiving yards record and what he is planning to do moving forward, play for Tennessee in the Orange Bowl or potentially opt out

“Yeah, a lot to put into consideration. I have to talk to my family and the coaching staff. We’re still 50/50 on some things. I’ll have a decision next week for everybody. As far as (the records) those are two things that have to weigh in. The receiving record and just playing with the team, or leaving. I’m taking into consideration hard with my family and coaches, but we’ll have a decision next week.”

If he has a favorite game or moment from the season

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

If they told him how tight the voting for the award was

“No, they didn’t tell me anything as far as voting wise. When you’re in season, just going through all that, you just try to worry about the season and worry about what you’re doing the next game. But I don’t know about the voters, what the numbers were or anything. We came here expecting to win. That’s all I can say for that question, as far as how to answer it.”

If there was a point in Tennessee’s season where he knew it was going to be special

“I would probably say after the LSU game. After the LSU game, my confidence was as high as it can be. Coaching staff started to trust in me a little more. I kept telling them I want to be the guy, all week. Coach (Alex) Golesh gave me a shot for the LSU game. I think after that, the LSU game sparked everything else, just as far as confidence, as far as (the coaching staff) trusting me, and as far as me going out there and making plays.”

The factors he’s considering in the decision on his future 

“Weighing both options. Do you think, as far as scouting wise, do you feel like you’re ready for the league?  You need to come back? What is NIL pushing? As far as leaving, what round (in the NFL Draft)? What evaluation? What do the scouts think about you. I’ve been patiently doing it with my family and coaches. I just want to credit Coach Heup for helping me through the process, helping me make the right decision for me and my future.”

His NIL deal with Hyatt Hotels, gifting his Tennessee teammates home accommodations at the Orange Bowl

“With the Hyatt Hotel, as far as how we came to an agreement, we wanted to do something for the bowl game, for the families. We know how hard it is, as far as when you go to bowl games, families have to pay for hotels. Especially it being in Miami, big city. But I’m glad we worked out an agreement. I think my teammates deserve the world just as far as how they practice, how they play the games, how they came up in big moments. It’s just a credit to everybody on the offense, credit everybody on the defense, just a whole team chemistry that we have. We’re brothers in this room. I think each and every one of them. Just grateful to be in the spot that I’m in right now.”

No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Clemson, Orange Bowl, Dec. 30, ESPN

The feedback he’s gotten so far from that Hyatt NIL deal

“I’m having discussions with our NIL partners up here, with Spyre and Volunteer Club. We’re (looking at) options, just as far as what we can do next year. It’s a long process. I want to make sure I take my time just to make the right step for me and for my future and for my family’s future as well.”

If he’s tried to mentor a younger receiver on this Tennessee team

“When Velus (Jones Jr.) was here, he was the leader in that (wide receiver meeting) room. Ced Tillman was a leader in this rom. Coach Pope (wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope), throughout this season, he challenged me to be a leader and to step up, just as far as vocal leadership. I wanted to take that role and I did. Just trying to get the young guys right. Especially with the season this year, you know, anything can happen. I stay hard on them in practice, making sure they’re going full out as far as whatever period we’re in. I’m very proud of what they’ve done so far, being up here, growing up and maturing. Just seeing how they develop. I can’t wait to see what happens next year with them. Just grateful to be in this position, a leadership position, so I can teach the young guys what I know.”