2023 WR Devin Hyatt (6-1 180) is a speedster from Dutch Fork and one of the top receivers in the country in his class. He’s ranked a four-star in the 247Sports Composite and the #17 receiver nationally for 2023. He is following the footsteps of his brother Jalin who has a true freshman at Tennessee last season caught 20 passes for 276 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The younger Hyatt and his parents spent much of Saturday at USC watching camp, checking out the facilities and meeting with the coaches for the first time, in particular head coach Shane Beamer, receivers coach Justin Stepp and area recruiter Erik Kimrey. To say it went well from both sides would be quite the understatement.
Hyatt’s father Jamie Saturday night reviewed the visit and cleared the air about any misconceptions involving his son’s recruitment at this point.
On what the day with the Gamecocks was like for the Hyatts:
“It was great to meet the new staff. What an awesome group of guys that Beamer has put together. (Justin) Stepp, the wide receiver coach we had known him from when he recruited Jalin when he was at Arkansas. So, we were not only familiar with Stepp but good friends with him. When he came to South Carolina, he reached out right away. And of course, Kimrey reached out right away. Kimrey told us today, and I didn’t know this, Devin was his first offer as a coach at Carolina. Kimrey said look, I will always remember that. Devin was my first offer. I think that speaks volumes to what that staff is trying to do, which is, we have got to recruit the state and make in-state guys a priority.”
On meeting Shane Beamer for the first time:
“We pulled up in the parking lot and Coach Beamer literally comes out of the facility to meet us at almost the time we got out of our car. That was nice. Devin didn’t work out because he didn’t have to, and he’s nursing a little hamstring issue. We just wanted to come and just sit with the staff and get to know those guys. It was actually our first time threw the new facility, and of course, it’s a beautiful place and has all the bells and whistles. Our thing was really just getting to sit down and talk with those guys. It was good to sit down with Shane Beamer. I told him that we had met his father when Jalin was committed and getting recruited at Virginia Tech. We sat down for a while right before we left with Shane. You can tell, there’s an energy in the building. You can feel it with that new coaching staff there.”
On the status of Devin’s recruiting considering many feel he’s a lock to Tennessee:
“Devin has tried to let these coaches know that, yes, I know that Jalin plays at Tennessee, but I’m my own guy. Options are available, and he’s considering everybody. Tennessee is exactly where everybody else is. I’m sure fans on social media think he’s going to Tennessee. We’re pro Tennessee on social media because that’s where my son plays. Wherever Devin chooses, we’ll be all-in on that place. Absolutely, they (USC) do have a chance. We have some time. Devin is just going into his junior year. We have some time to sit back and lets see how some of these philosophies are working out, or him being a wide receiver, he’s going to to look at see what type of schemes they put on the field and if its beneficial for a wide receiver. So, yes, they do have a chance. We haven’t ruled them out at all. Or nobody. Everybody is open right now. We’ll learn more September 1st of his junior year when they really can start reaching out to him and we can take some more visits. I tell you, I like the energy around that place (USC). We’re big fans of the coaching staff that Beamer has put together.”
Along with USC, the Hyatts have visited Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. All have offered. They wanted to get to Clemson and Auburn this month, but they weren’t able to work them in. Hyatt also has offers from Florida State, Oregon, Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina, Marshall and West Virginia.
Other Notes:
2023 4-star LB Grayson Howard (6-3 205) of Jacksonville visited USC Saturday. He’s ranked the #25 LB nationally in his class in the 247Sports Composite. He had 118 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last season.
LB Xavier Simmons of Greensboro, NC, who had an offer from USC, committed to Virginia Tech.
Clemson target ATH Jaren Kanak was at Alabama over the weekend.
