Dec. 26, 2025, 6:53 p.m. ET
- Tennessee coach Josh Heupel uses former player Jalin Hyatt as an example of persistence for his team.
- Hyatt’s breakout performance in the 2021 Music City Bowl led to his award-winning 2022 season.
- Freshman receivers will have an opportunity to play in the upcoming Music City Bowl due to player opt-outs.
NASHVILLE – Jalin Hyatt wasn’t an obvious talking point when coach Josh Heupel addressed the Tennessee football team before Music City Bowl practice.
But memories of the Vols’ last trip to this bowl steered Heupel toward Hyatt, the 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner, as one of his favorite examples of persistence paying off for a player.
“A lot of times in December you get a glimpse of where (young players) are continuing to grow,” Heupel said on Dec. 26 at Montgomery Bell Academy, where UT is holding on-site bowl practices.
“Last time we were here, Jalin Hyatt was a great example. That’s a story we actually talk to our team about pretty much every single year. It’s one that I shared with our young guys.”
No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) plays Illinois (8-4) in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Nissan Stadium.
Freshmen will play key roles after notable players opted out to prepare for NFL draft workouts. Heupel told them about Hyatt’s breakout Music City Bowl performance that led to stardom the following season.
What Jalin Hyatt did that Josh Heupel still talks about
In 2021, Hyatt had a disappointing sophomore season under Heupel, then UT’s first-year coach. Hyatt suffered a concussion, lost his slot receiver position, struggled in the new offense and lost his confidence.
But Hyatt kept working and finally got an opportunity in the Music City Bowl. He caught a 31-yard pass to set up a UT touchdown. And with 1:35 remaining in the game, he caught a TD pass from Hendon Hooker to send it into overtime.
Tennessee ultimately lost 48-45 to Purdue. But the Vols amassed 666 yards of total offense, and Hyatt proved that he was ready to step into the spotlight.
In 2022, Hyatt adopted an intense workout routine, increased his film study and caught a school-record 15 TD passes to win the Biletnikoff Award, given to the best receiver in college football. He was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
It started with his performance in the Music City Bowl.
“That guy that had a little bit of an up-and-down during the course of the (2021) season,” Heupel said. “But his focus, his preparation, his work habits during the month of December were dramatically different (leading up to the Music City Bowl).
“We expected him to play really well when we got here. He obviously did, and that was the springboard to his (2022) season.”
These freshman receivers are looking for breakout performance
Heupel said Hyatt serves as an example to players at any position. But his breakout certainly applies to UT’s situation at wide receiver.
Chris Brazzell, the SEC’s leading receiver, opted out of the Music City Bowl to prepare for NFL draft workouts. Freshmen Radarious Jackson and Travis Smith will replace him against Illinois.
If they play well, it could lead to a starting role in the 2026 season.
“(We) expect both of them to play at a really high level,” Heupel said. “Those are guys we had a lot of trust in heading into the season based on what they had done during spring ball, their maturity, their summer prep.
“Both of them got nicked up at different points during the season but finished in a great way.”
Jackson has seven catches for 72 yards this season, and he missed four games due to injury. Smith has three catches for 29 yards, and he missed six games due to injury.
Quarterback Joey Aguilar said both freshmen have worked into the primary rotation during bowl practices. They joined Braylon Staley, the SEC Freshman of the Year, and Mike Matthews.
“(Jackson and Smith) got a lot of reps at practice (during the season), but a lot of team reps and first-team reps are a little different. They’ve adapted well,” Aguilar said. “They know what they’re doing, and they’re out there competing for a spot.”
Blue-chip recruits Tristen Keys, Tyreek King will join 2026 competition
The Music City Bowl provides an opportunity for Jackson and Smith to get a headstart in the 2026 competition at wide receiver.
Assuming Staley and Matthews return, one starting spot will be up for grabs. And UT would like to expand the rotation beyond three receivers.
Five-star signee Tristen Keys, arguably the No. 1 receiver in the 2026 class, will enroll at Tennessee in January. Tyreek King, a four-star signee from Knox Catholic, also will join the mix.
Joakim Dodson is another option after he caught two passes as a freshman this season.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Emailadam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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