The Tennessee Volunteers employed the quickest offensive tempo in college football last season, averaging 474.9 yards and 39.3 points per game.
Jalin Hyatt missed out on a lot of that fun.
After amassing 276 yards and 13.8 yards per reception as a freshman in 2020, Hyatt’s numbers dipped to 226 yards and 10.8 per catch last season as Velus Jones Jr. took control of the slot position with 62 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns. Hyatt admitted this spring to being “complacent” after the coaching transition from Jeremy Pruitt to Josh Heupel and echoed those sentiments Thursday as the Vols resumed preseason workouts following Wednesday’s day off.
“Last year was hard on me,” Hyatt said in a news conference. “I lost my confidence and didn’t really know the offense as well as I know it this year. I wasn’t going as hard last year.
“I think Velus helped me a lot when he was here. He stood up and took over the role when I couldn’t, but this year I’m locked in. I’m ready to go.”