{"id":183891,"date":"2025-07-05T17:32:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T17:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/183891\/"},"modified":"2025-07-05T17:32:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T17:32:11","slug":"great-grit-russell-wilson-praises-former-tennessee-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/183891\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Great Grit’: Russell Wilson Praises Former Tennessee Star"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\"Jalin<\/a>VFL and New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. Photo via @Giants on Twitter.<\/p>\n

With a new, veteran quarterback in place for the New York Giants, former Tennessee wide receiver could be staring down his first breakout season in the NFL.<\/p>\n

Hyatt is entering his third season in the NFL with just 31 catches in his career. He made 23 grabs for 373 yards as a rookie, but the numbers slumped off to just eight catches for 62 yards in his second season amidst significant tribulation in the Giants\u2019 quarterback room.<\/p>\n

Daniel Jones is off the Giants\u2019 roster moving forward. In replacement, New York signed both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to go along with returning backup Tommy DeVito. But with Jones out of the picture and Wilson assumed for the starting gig, Hyatt\u2019s production could see a jump.<\/p>\n

Wilson spoke highly of the former Tennessee wideout while talking with the Giants\u2019 media this past week, and even recalled some of Hyatt\u2019s big plays in Knoxville:<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw him do it in college, not too long ago,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cI also saw him make some big time plays. And then at National Football League, I remember he had this sweet catch against Arizona<\/a>, that he went up and snagged it over somebody\u2019s head. He did it at home (in New York) once. Just multiple times he\u2019s made some great plays.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilson, a Super Bowl champion, might not be the quarterback he used to be, but he\u2019s still a veteran in the league who knows what type of weapons he wants to attack opposing defenses. Unlike Jones, Wilson also brings a higher level of leadership to the offense.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing is just that consistency that I can bring to him every day, too,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cJust making sure that I\u2019m always giving him extra opportunities down the field. Also, not just down the field, in any play we got. Spending extra time on the field. He\u2019s got a great work ethic, Jalin does. I think he\u2019s got great grit to him. I think that he wants to be great every day. He\u2019s got all the special pieces to it all. What makes a great receiver is his ability to catch the ball. In contested situations, he does a great job of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson had a lot of positive words for #VFL<\/a> Jalin Hyatt:<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw him do it in college not too long ago\u2026 He\u2019s got a great work ethic\u2026 He\u2019s got all the special pieces to it all.\u201d #Vols<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XWWQR49Pxx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Reece Van Haaften (@Reece_VH) July 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

More From RTI:\u00a0Tennessee Football Might Have to Meet This Price for Elite Offensive Line Recruits<\/a><\/p>\n

The Giants\u2019 projected starting receivers consist of Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Wan\u2019Dale Robinson, but there\u2019s still room for Hyatt to find a role in the offense in a pivotal third year in the league. While it could just be fluffy offseason talk, perhaps Wilson really is looking at Hyatt as a deep-field threat that he can use at points this fall.<\/p>\n

With a new quarterback in place, maybe this will be the year that Hyatt finds his first career touchdown in the NFL. We\u2019ll just have to wait and see.<\/p>\n

The New York Giants will begin training camp in mid-July with their first full-team practice taking place on July 23 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

Check out some of Jalin Hyatt\u2019s best rookie season highlights here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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