Jalin Hyatt topped 100 receiving yards so often in college that the rookie began to wonder if his low weekly totals in the NFL were a sign that he was doing something wrong.
The wait for Hyatt — and all Giants’ pass-catchers — ended Sunday when he made five receptions for 109 yards, becoming the first player to reach triple digits this season in the NFL’s worst passing offense.
He was responsible for the three biggest plays from scrimmage by either team in the Giants’ 10-7 victory against the Patriots — the ultimate payoff for heeding head coach Brian Daboll’s message to keep the faith in trying times.
“I used to average 100 yards at [the University of] Tennessee, and being up here was kind of tough for me at first,” Hyatt told The Post. “I went to coach and asked, ‘Is it me? Is it something I need to do better?’ Dabes had a great talk with me one-on-one about how this is how the NFL is: One game, you can have the best game of your life, the next game, you can have nothing. It goes to Dabes and how much respect I have for him. He’s been teaching me about the league.”
Hyatt, who was held without a catch in six of the first 11 games and only topped 21 yards twice, was responsible for the three biggest plays from scrimmage (41 yards, 29 and 22) by either team.
The 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner as the top receiver in college football averaged 105 yards as a junior before he was a third-round pick in April’s draft.
“I always have high goals for myself,” Hyatt said. “I had to stick it through with my preparation and make sure I’m staying up.”
Hyatt had to look no further than the veteran Giants receivers for a guide on how to handle playing in a run-first offense relying on third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito.
The ultra-consistent Darius Slayton’s numbers are way down from his three career seasons of 46-50 catches and 724-751 receiving yards, and Isaiah Hodgins hasn’t made nearly the same impact as he did during last season’s run to the playoffs.
But Hodgins was the first to provide a spark Sunday when he caught a pass at the 8-yard line and broke a tackle by Jonathan Jones to get into the end zone.
Because it was third down, Hodgins’ vicious stiff arm to knock down cornerback Jonathan Jones was worth four points — the difference between a touchdown and a field goal.
“DeVito told me, ‘If we get this specific look, it’s coming your way, so be ready,’” Hodgins said. “I mentally prepared myself for that. Dabes is always talking about playing big — especially for me, using my physicality, run after catch and finishing plays.”
Nicknamed “Big Man” by his fellow receivers, has Hodgins ever had such a Marshawn Lynch-esque stiff arm?
“Not like that,” Hodgins said. “That was a good little milestone for me.”
The Giants’ wide receiver corps now has five touchdowns on the season, led by Hodgins’ two.
“A lot of guys get in the dumps about themselves and when a moment like that comes, they are not ready for it,” Hodgins said. “I told myself, even if it’s one catch a game, I have to make the most of it.”
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