How a wide receiver once told to eat more peanut butter conquered the SEC
In short: Before becoming a standout collegiate athlete and NFL draft pick, Jalin Hyatt was dismissed by major in-state recruiters who doubted his small frame. Told by a head coach to simply eat more peanut butter, Hyatt instead transformed his career through record-breaking performances that redefined his path to professional football.
Born in 2001 in Irmo, South Carolina, Jalin Hyatt grew up in a household of athletes; both his parents were collegiate competitors. Despite setting high school records with 3,624 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns at Dutch Fork High School, his path to the elite level was not guaranteed. Major regional programs like Clemson and South Carolina bypassed him, citing concerns over his weight, which sat at 153 pounds at the time. This skepticism famously led South Carolina coach Will Muschamp to offer blunt dietary advice regarding peanut butter.
Hyatt eventually committed to the University of Tennessee, where his trajectory shifted dramatically during his 2022 junior season. After a slow start to his college career, he emerged as the Volunteers' primary target. His breakout moment arrived on October 15, 2022, against Alabama, where he recorded a school-record five touchdowns and 207 receiving yards in a historic 52–49 victory. By the end of that season, he had secured the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver and became a unanimous All-American, the first for Tennessee since 2009.
The New York Giants selected Hyatt in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, signing him to a four-year contract worth $5.62 million. While he showed flashes of potential early—including a key 58-yard reception during a comeback win against the Arizona Cardinals—his professional tenure proved challenging. Over three seasons, Hyatt struggled to find the end zone, failing to record a single touchdown catch. By August 30, 2026, the Giants waived him, ultimately re-signing him to their practice squad, marking a stark contrast to his explosive collegiate success.
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