Jalin Hyatt, one day on the job, already speaks the truth.
“People are always going to say things,’’ the rookie Giants wide receiver said Friday. “I think that’s what I learned the most.’’
Yes, people are always going to say things.
And what they have kept saying about Hyatt is that, for all his physical gifts and talents catching the football and hauling it into the end zone, he is something of a one-trick pony.
He is a speed guy all the way and, at this point, not much else.
There was no chance for Hyatt, who was selected in the third round of last week’s NFL draft, to dispel that supposed limitation on the first day of the Giants’ rookie mini-camp.
He ran a few drills, but was held out of the brief seven-on-seven passing period, as was cornerback Deonte Banks, the Giants’ first-round pick.
The opportunity for Hyatt to show he is more than what others think of him will be here soon enough.
“Yeah, I came from Tennessee’s offense, which I had fun in, learned a lot of new things in that offense and now coming into this offense learning more new things,’’ Hyatt said. “But at the end of the day, I’m a football player. I can play any offense and I’m just glad I’m here.’’
Hyatt’s elite speed — 4.34 in the 40-yard dash — cannot be taught.
The need to refine his route running is why Hyatt was the 73rd player taken in the draft and did not get selected in the first round.
But refinement can be taught, you would think.
“It’s a process for some of the new receivers that we just added,’’ Giants head coach Brian Daboll said. “It’s probably a little bit of a bigger mountain for the younger players because there’s so much to learn.
“I don’t have grand expectations for any of these young players because they have such a long way to go, regardless of where they were drafted.’’
In the lead-up to the draft, Hyatt bristled at the notion he is one-dimensional.
During the Tennessee Pro Day on March 30 in Knoxville, Hyatt was set to take the field when Robert Prince, the Cowboys’ receivers coach, was ready to orchestrate the wide receiver drills.
This was the conversation that took place and was captured on video by NFL Films for its “Hey Rookie: Welcome to the NFL’’ series:
Prince: “You know what you are.’’
Hyatt: “What am I, coach?’’
Prince: “You know what you are.’’
Hyatt: “What’s that?’’
Prince: “I’m saying like, you’ve got a skill set.’’
Hyatt: “What’s the skill set?’’
Prince: “It’s your speed!’’
Hyatt: “But I can run routes, though.’’
Prince: “We’re about to see.’’
Hyatt: “We will see.’’
Prince: “We’re about to see.’’
Hyatt: “I gotcha.’’
There was definitely an edge in Hyatt’s voice as he rebuffed Prince’s suggestion that he is all about speed.
“No, it didn’t bother me at all,’’ Hyatt said. “Coaches and a lot of people have their own opinions on things, and I respect the Cowboys receiver coach. I met with him when I went up to one of my 30 visits. That’s in the past now. Draft process is in the past. I’m here with the New York Giants, and I’m just ready to get to work.’’
Reminded that the Giants play the Cowboys twice a season, Hyatt was ready with a rejoinder.
“Any team I go against, that’s going to spark me,’’ he said. “I’m in the NFL now, and I’m here with grown men. I can’t wait to just go out there and play. It doesn’t matter what team it is or who we’re facing. I just can’t wait to go out and represent for the Giants and represent for this coaching staff.’’
Hyatt’s first two years at Tennessee were modest, with a total of 41 catches and four touchdowns, and did not hint that an outbreak was coming in 2022.
Hyatt averaged 18.9 yards per catch and scored 15 touchdowns.
The Giants are big believers, which is why they traded up in the third round, from No. 89 to No. 73, to get him.
“I’ve never been to a big, big city before, and this is really my first time actually being in New York,’’ Hyatt said. “So far, it’s everything that I thought it would be. It’s beautiful here, just being around here, beautiful on the practice field. When I went out there today, man, I was just soaking it up, just being on that field and seeing my teammates and seeing the coaching staff and just being around them. I had a blessed day. I think that’s really the biggest thing, blessed.’’