Jalin Hyatt first caught former NFL receiver Chad Johnson’s eyes while tallying a pair of touchdowns in Tennessee’s win over LSU earlier this month.
Johnson’s daughter was on a track visit to LSU and Hyatt’s speed blew the former Oregon State and Bengals receiver away.
After two more dominant Hyatt performances, Johnson found himself in Knoxville watching the junior receiver as his daughter came on a recruiting visit to Tennessee leading to the meeting between a former great NFL receiver and the current great college receiver.
“I met him right before the game,” Hyatt said. “He’s taller than I thought. Those are the things you dream of. Just to have the opportunity to see him, just to meet him, it made my day and I think that’s why I wanted to play so hard today, just because he was here.”
I got to meet my guy @jalinhyatt before the game 🏈 pic.twitter.com/yv3iXTYcAp
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) October 30, 2022
Hyatt showed out with Johnson in attendance, catching five passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. The pair of receiving touchdowns moved Hyatt to 14 on the season, making him Tennessee’s new single season program record holder.
The junior slot receiver is in the midst of an unparalleled stretch of success. Hyatt has nine touchdowns in the last three games and 11 touchdowns in the last four games.
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Cedric Tillman a season ago is the only Tennessee receiver in the last 22 years to total over 11 touchdowns in a single season. Hyatt did it in four games.
It’s safe to say that the junior keeps impressing Johnson and after a reporter shared Hyatt’s initial quote about meeting Johnson, the former All-Pro receiver showed even more love.
I fucking love you man @jalinhyatt 🙏🏾 https://t.co/s41Cov1hvm
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) October 30, 2022
“I think it should be the other way around,” Hyatt said when told about Johnson’s Tweet. “I look at Twitter sometimes and just see him coming in, I remember seeing one thing on Twitter where he gave somebody an $1,100 tip and he put on there something about me. I’m over here looking at it speechless. It should be the other way around. I haven’t done anything close to what he has done and just the legend that he is and what he’s done in the league. I’m blessed just to even meet him on the sideline before the game. It made my day for sure.”
Hyatt and Tennessee have more business ahead of them as they travel to No. 1 Georgia to face the Bulldogs with the SEC east on the line next week.
“That’s what you live for,” Hyatt said. “You live for games like that and you know we are going to bring our all for Georgia.”
Kick off between Tennessee and Georgia is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. Brad Nesler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell are on the call for ESPN.
