Tennessee WR coach Kelsey Pope named to AFCA 35 under 35 list
Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope has been named to the American Football Coaches Association Leadership Institute 35 under 35 list. Pope, 30, is in his first year as wide receivers coach of the Vols, after being promoted to the position in March.
Pope replaced former Tennessee wide receivers coach Kodi Burns, who left the Vols for the same position with the New Orleans Saints.
Junior receiver Jalin Hyatt, who last week was named a finalist for the Belitnikoff Award, had a breakout season for the Vols while working under Pope. He finished the regular season leading the country in touchdowns, with his 15 setting a new Tennessee program record. He had1,267 receiving yards, only 31 yards short of matching the Tennessee record held by Robert Meachem, who had 1,298 yards in 2006.
Jalin Hyatt had breakout junior season for Vols under wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope
Hyatt in September credited Pope for helping him find success in his junior season.
“When he was here as an analyst,” Hyatt said of Pope, “he was always there trying to help me get my confidence back, as far as with my game. And I’m really grateful for that guy. I think he’s the best receiver coach in the country.”
Hyatt’s 1,267 yards came on just 67 receptions, giving him an average of 18.9 yards per catch. As the biggest deep threat the country, Hyatt finished No. 1 in the country in plays of 30 or more yards (15), 40 or more yards (11), 50 or more yards (7) and 60 or more yards (5).
“Jalin, he’s bought in in every aspect of his life,” Pope said in September. “It’s not just football. It’s physically, it’s spiritually, it’s mentally. All those things, as humans, those things come into each other, there’s no separation.
“He really bought in and I think you guys are seeing it on the field. I’m just a big of a fan as you guys are, to see that kid have success.”
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During a four-game stretch, from LSU on October 8 through Kentucky on October 29, Hyatt caught 22 passes for 582 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He had four catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns at LSU, six catches for 207 yards and a school-record five touchdowns against Alabama on October 15, seven catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns against UT Martin and five catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the Missouri game with seven catches for 146 yards and a touchdown.
He had five catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns and started the season with a touchdown on Tennessee’s first offensive snap against Ball State on September 1.
Pope was elevated to wide receivers coach after working as an analyst on the Tennessee staff last season.
“I try to do a good job of being aware when guys, when we need to speak life into them, lift them up,” Pope said during an appearance at the Knoxville Quarterback Club. “And there are times when guys are already high and you’ve got to keep them humble. So you have to do a good job managing those things.”
