Jalin Hyatt Bio
Jalin Daveon Hyatt (born September 25, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing around 185 pounds, Hyatt earned national recognition during his junior season at the University of Tennessee, where he set school records for receiving touchdowns. Selected by the Giants in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he continues to develop into a deep-threat target at the professional level.
Born and raised in South Carolina, Hyatt built a stellar high school resume before emerging as one of the most productive receivers in Tennessee Volunteers history. His blend of straight-line speed, route polish, and big-play ability has been a hallmark of his career from his first varsity snap to his current role in New York.
Early Life and Background
Hyatt was born on September 25, 2001, in Irmo, South Carolina, a suburb located near Columbia. He is the oldest son of Jamie Hyatt, a former college basketball player and semi-professional cyclist, and Enevelyn Hyatt, a former collegiate sprinter. Both parents later worked as school teachers, and their athletic backgrounds helped shape Hyatt’s early interest in competitive sports.
His younger brother, Devin Hyatt, also plays football, suiting up for the Arizona Wildcats. Growing up in an active household, Hyatt developed his speed and competitive edge in a community that valued both academics and athletics.
Hyatt attended Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, where he became one of the most decorated receivers in program history. He set school records with 3,624 career receiving yards and 57 career receiving touchdowns. Hyatt helped Dutch Fork complete undefeated seasons and capture state championships in both 2018 and 2019, catching three touchdowns, including the overtime winner, in the 2019 state title game. He was later named a finalist for South Carolina’s Mr. Football Award and was ranked as a four-star prospect and the 144th overall player in the 2020 recruiting class.
Path to American Football
Despite his prolific high school production, Hyatt drew limited interest from in-state programs Clemson and South Carolina, who raised concerns about his slender frame. At the time, he weighed only about 153 pounds, a number that became a recurring talking point in his recruitment, with one South Carolina coach famously telling him he needed to eat more peanut butter.
Hyatt initially committed to Virginia Tech in February 2019, but reopened his recruitment a few months later. On July 27, 2019, he committed to the University of Tennessee to play under head coach Jeremy Pruitt. Coaches praised his polish and versatility, projecting him as a player capable of lining up at all three wide receiver spots in the Volunteers’ offensive system.
Arriving in Knoxville as a lean but talented recruit, Hyatt spent his early college years adjusting to the size and speed of the Southeastern Conference. His combination of track-level speed and refined route running made him a player to watch, even as he waited for a larger role in the Tennessee offense.
Jalin Hyatt Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Hyatt’s college career began during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. On October 3, 2020, he recorded his first collegiate reception in a victory over Missouri. Three weeks later, he notched his first college touchdown, a 38-yard catch against Alabama, finishing his freshman year with 20 receptions for 276 yards and two scores.
As a sophomore in 2021, Hyatt was expected to take a major step forward, but injuries and inconsistent playing time limited his production. He started just one game and ended the season with 21 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns, setting the stage for a critical junior campaign.
Tennessee Volunteers Breakthrough (2022)
Hyatt’s junior season quickly turned into one of the most explosive individual years in program history. In Tennessee’s second game of 2022, he recorded a career-high 11 receptions in an overtime win at Pittsburgh. The following week, he posted his first 100-yard game with 166 yards against Akron, signaling his arrival as a go-to target.
His signature moment came on October 15, 2022, when he torched third-ranked Alabama for 207 receiving yards and a school-record five touchdown catches in a 52–49 upset, Tennessee’s first win over the Crimson Tide since 2006. The performance earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors and announced him as a national star.
Hyatt closed the regular season with dominant performances against Kentucky, Missouri, and Vanderbilt, finishing 2022 with 67 receptions for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. His yardage total ranked second in school history, and he led the SEC in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He capped the year by winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver and being named a unanimous All-American, the first Vol to earn that honor since Eric Berry in 2009.
New York Giants Era (2023–Present)
Hyatt declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and was selected by the New York Giants in the third round as the 73rd overall pick. He signed his rookie contract on May 15, 2023, agreeing to a four-year deal worth $5.62 million with a $1 million signing bonus. The Giants viewed him as a long-term deep threat to pair with their young quarterback.
After a quiet NFL debut, Hyatt announced his arrival in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals, catching two passes for 89 yards, including a 58-yard grab that quarterback Daniel Jones cited as key to a 31–28 comeback win. Later that season, he posted his first 100-yard receiving game against the New England Patriots, earning the NFL’s Pepsi Offensive Rookie of the Week award. He finished his rookie year with 23 receptions for 373 yards across 17 games and seven starts.
In 2024, Hyatt appeared in 16 games but saw a reduced role, finishing with eight receptions for 62 yards. Through the early portion of the 2025 season, he had five receptions for 35 yards in eight games, working to carve out a larger role in the Giants’ offensive game plan.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the field, Hyatt is best known for his elite straight-line speed, which allows him to stretch defenses vertically and create explosive plays down the sideline. His route-running polish, developed under multiple Tennessee coaching staffs, and his ability to line up across all three receiver positions give his offensive coordinator tremendous flexibility.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hyatt’s five-touchdown performance against Alabama in 2022 stands as the defining moment of his career to date, a school record that helped him clinch the Biletnikoff Award. He also became the first Tennessee player to win that honor and the program’s first unanimous All-American since 2009, underscoring his place among the most accomplished receivers in Volunteers history.
Jalin Hyatt Career Wins
Although individual receiving statistics and awards dominate Hyatt’s resume, his impact is measured as much in team success as personal accolades. He was part of back-to-back undefeated state championship teams at Dutch Fork High School and contributed to a landmark win for Tennessee over Alabama in 2022.
Tennessee Volunteers Highlights
Hyatt’s 2022 junior season featured the most memorable highlights of his college career, including his record-setting five-touchdown game against Alabama and consistent production throughout the schedule. He closed the year leading the SEC in receiving yards and touchdowns, anchoring one of the most explosive offenses in college football.
Other Wins & Performances
At Dutch Fork High School, Hyatt’s two state championship runs in 2018 and 2019 represented the pinnacle of his prep career, capped by his overtime heroics in the 2019 title game. His early NFL resume, including a comeback-defining catch against Arizona, has already produced a handful of signature professional moments.
Jalin Hyatt Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hyatt’s athletic pedigree runs deep on both sides of his family. His father, Jamie Hyatt, played college basketball and competed as a semi-professional cyclist, while his mother, Enevelyn Hyatt, was a collegiate sprinter. Both parents later became school teachers, instilling a strong academic and work ethic in their children.
Personal Life
His younger brother, Devin Hyatt, is a college football player for the Arizona Wildcats, continuing the family’s tradition of competitive sports. Hyatt remains closely tied to his hometown of Irmo, South Carolina, where the Tennessee-South Carolina game each fall brings him back near his childhood home.
2025 Season Performance
Hyatt entered the 2025 NFL season looking to build on the flashes of promise he showed as a rookie. With the Giants investing in his long-term development, the team is counting on him to emerge as a more consistent weapon in the passing game and a reliable downfield threat.
Through the early portion of the season, Hyatt had appeared in eight games, recording five receptions for 35 yards. His role has fluctuated as the Giants search for the right offensive balance, but his big-play potential continues to be a key part of the team’s offensive plans.
Looking ahead, Hyatt’s outlook in New York will depend on his ability to translate his elite speed into more consistent production. With several more seasons under contract, he has time to cement his role as a long-term starter and a difference-maker in the Giants’ passing attack.
