Jalin Hyatt was a major disappointment his sophomore year at Tennessee.
Rated one of the nation’s top high school receivers, Hyatt had a decent true freshman season. But in 2021, his first year under new coach Josh Heupel, Hyatt got benched after the first month due to dropped passes.
Rather than tuck his tail, the speedster from Irmo, S.C., worked tirelessly on the jugs gun to improve his hands and had a breakout season in 2022.
As a junior, Hyatt caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards and a school-record 15 touchdowns to become Tennessee’s one-and-only Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top receiver. He had that unforgettable five-touchdown, 207-yard performance in a thrilling 52-49 victory over Alabama.
That was a remarkable turnaround from the year before when he had 21 catches for 226 yards. And in his two seasons before 2022, Hyatt had 41 combined catches for 502 yards and four scores.
Hyatt is one of many examples of wideouts prospering in the second year of Heupel’s UT system.
(Jimmy’s blog is brought to you by Andrews Physical Therapy. With 3 convenient locations serving East Tennessee- Asheville Highway, Blaine and Rutledge. I’ve personally trusted Andrews Physical Therapy and can confidently recommend their team for exceptional care. Visit p4physicaltherapy.com or call to schedule your appointment today.)
Insiders will tell you that Heupel’s passing game requires receivers and quarterbacks to make quick reads on defensive alignments. One wrong cut could lead to a pick-six. It can sometimes take a year for the quarterback and receiver to be on the same page.
That was never more apparent than last season, when UT’s wideouts set a record with three having at least 800 receiving yards. Chris Brazzell, Braylen Staley and Mike Matthews combined for 183 catches and 2,667 yards last season. In 2024, they combined for 39 catches and 444 yards.
Staley went from three catches to 68. Matthews went from seven catches to 53. Brazzell went from 29 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns to 62 for 1,017 yards and nine scores.
That brings us to 2026.
(Jimmy’s blog is brought to you by Rick McGill Airport Toyota. Rick McGill has an amazing inventory and great specials on new and preowned vehicles with easy financing. Rick McGill – your full-service Toyota Dealership.)
Which Tennessee receiver will have a breakout season?
Could it be sophomore Radarius Jackson, who had nine catches for 90 yards?
Or Travis Smith Jr., who had three catches for 29 yards?
Or five-star true freshman TK Keys, who has impressed during August camp?
One (or two) will need to emerge for UT to have a complete, well-rounded receiving corps.
It would benefit true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon to have weapons all over the field. It would also help Brandon if talented tight end Ethan Davis stays healthy. He could be a 40-catch guy.
(Jimmy’s blog is brought to you by AG Heins Company. Whatever building materials you need – whether commercial or residential – they’ve got you covered. If you’re starting a project, you know who to call. That’ who I call. You should too. AG Heins Co: selling building materials since anyone can remember)
History tells you a second-year receiver will flourish under Heupel.
Not only was last year a good example of that, but Dont’e Thornton went from 13 catches for 224 yards in 2023 to 26 for 661 (an SEC-best 25.3 yards per catch) and six scores in 2024.
Squirrel White went from 30 catches for 481 yards in 20022 to 67 for 803 in his second season.
Ramel Keyton went from seven catches for 72 yards in 2021 to 31 and 562.
(Jimmy’s blog is brought to you by Marcos Garza Law Firm, attorneys that care about their clients. You want a local, proven, quality attorney in your corner. Let Marcos Garza help you. Learn more at Garzalaw.com)
Four receivers did well in their first season under Heupel at Tennessee.
Cedric Tillman, who had eight catches in three seasons before Heupel arrived, had 64 grabs for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021.
Velus Jones, who transferred from USC to UT in 2020, had 62 receptions for 807 yards and seven scores in 2021.
JaVonta Payton, a Mississippi State transfer, had only 18 catches in 2021 but turned them in six touchdowns and a 22.9 yards-per-catch average.
Bru McCoy, a transfer from USC, had 52 catches for 667 yards and four touchdowns in 2022, his first season under Heupel.
(Jimmy’s blog is brought to you by Matlock Tires, a full-service tire center that offers top-quality tire brands, expert service and installation. Matlock Tires has 5 convenient locations to serve you. That’s where I go to get my tires and oil changes.)
Tennessee’s passing game flourished with first-year starter Joey Aguilar in 2025, as he passed for 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns. But he had six years of college under his belt before landing in Knoxville.
Brandon will be thrust into action with no college experience.
How he performs could be directly related to whether Tennessee can find a productive third wideout.
