Precocious Hyatt a key for Tigers in playoffs
The freshman left tackle earns an All-American award, and coaches say he deserves it
Precocious Hyatt a key for Tigers in playoffs The freshman left tackle earns an All-American award, and coaches say he deserves it Check out this story on greenvilleonline.com: https://grnol.co/1QNMJFp
Scott Keepfer, skeepfer@greenvillenews.com Published 7:40 p.m. ET Dec. 16, 2015 | Updated 10:09 p.m. ET Dec. 16, 2015
Clemson tackle Mitch Hyatt (75) has earned Freshman All-America honors.(Photo: BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff)Buy Photo
CLEMSON – As a freshman, one would assume that Mitch Hyatt would be little more than an errand boy for veteran players on Clemson's offensive line.
But that couldn't be further from the truth.
"He's an All-American," said senior offensive guard Eric Mac Lain. "We get his stuff, man."
Hyatt, one of the most highly regarded linemen ever to enroll at Clemson, began living up to his billing shortly after arriving on campus as a mid-year enrollee last January.
He went through spring practice, learning techniques and tactics from Mac Lain and the other upperclassmen, and bolstering his toughness by going up against standout defensive end Shaq Lawson in practice on a daily basis.
"It was tough," Hyatt said. "The game was a lot faster, everybody was stronger and more mature. It was a big challenge."
But one for which Hyatt was amply equipped.
"He got his tail whipped almost every day," Mac Lain said. "But he got right back up and started fighting again."
By mid-summer, after incumbent Isaiah Battle decided to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft, Hyatt had been penciled in as the starter at left tackle.
By the season-opening game on Sept. 5, he was entrenched there.
By mid-season, he'd become the first freshman in 10 years to be named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
By season's end, he'd logged the most plays by a rookie offensive lineman in school history and earned third-team All-ACC honors.
On Wednesday, he was named a Freshman All-American by both USA Today and The Sporting News.
"Those are great accolades to have," Hyatt said. "But a lot of the credit goes to the other lineman. They're the ones who have helped me out a lot."
And Lawson is deserving of much of the credit as well.
"After about the third week of practice, Mitch was going up against Shaq and winning some good battles there, so I really think we said, 'Hey, Mitch is going to be able to hold his own,' " said co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott. "If he can block Lawson, he can block all the guys we're going to go against."
Scott was right.
Hyatt started every game – the first player to do that as a freshman lineman at Clemson since 1944 – and got better as the season progressed. He posted an average film grade of 88 percent and shined brightest in some of the Tigers' biggest games, including a victory against Florida State.
It has been quite an introduction for the 6-foot-5, 295-pounder from Suwanee, Georgia, and one that has him pinching himself on a daily basis.
"I keep forgetting I'm only 18," Hyatt said. "This has been the best year I've had in my life."
A 13-0 record, No. 1 national ranking and berth in the College Football Playoff tends to have that effect on a young player, and he's expected to play a key role when the Tigers tackle No. 4 seed Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Eve.
"He's played left tackle like he's a senior over there," Coach Dabo Swinney said. "He's just been amazing. It's near-impossible to do what Mitch has done; it's a rare thing. I've never been around it, ever."