Jalin Hyatt has no doubt of future stardom despite ‘underdog’ history

Post columnist Steve Serby catches up to rookie Giants receiver Jalin Hyatt for some Q&A.

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.

A: A cheetah. Playing fast, being fast, being decisive and hitting your prey.

Q: Hitting your prey how?

A: Attacking your prey, just in different ways. I feel like my speed can affect anything, so that’s why I said cheetah.

Q: If Tyreek Hill is “The Cheetah,” then what are you?

A: What other animal’s fast like cheetahs?

Q: Gazelle.

A: Gazelle. That’s what we’re going with.

Q: Are you faster than Tyreek?

A: I wouldn’t say I’m faster, but I would love to race him.

Q: What has it been like for you being the underdog?

A: I love it. That’s one thing that wakes me up every morning to come here and have the mentality to get better every day. I think me being the underdog my whole life it started in high school, it made me work harder, made me become the person who I am today.

Q: Why do you think you were always doubted?

A: I think it was my size. High school I was 6-foot, 153 [pounds] coming out of high school [in Irmo, S.C.]. South Carolina didn’t offer me, Clemson didn’t offer me, and I grew up in South Carolina. So I went to University of Tennessee and was [an] underdog there, nobody knew me from freshman and sophomore … and then my junior year I exploded to the scene, but still underdog coming into the league … didn’t go first round. Do I feel like I’m a first-round receiver? Yes. But didn’t go first round. So you go back to that same mentality that I had in high school and keep working. Even though I’m still blessed, I feel like God put me in this position that I’m in right now.

Q: What do you want to prove to the NFL?

A: I want to be dynamic. I want to prove that I can be a star. I want to be a star in this league. It’s not gonna happen overnight, I know I gotta work for it.

Q: Do you think you can be a star?

A: I will be a star.

Q: Why are you so certain?

A: I just know by my hard work that I know I’ll get there. One thing about me, once I understand the flow of the game, the flow of how the league works, being on the field having that experience, it just makes me better throughout games, throughout years. And not only that, I still have so much potential, I hadn’t even reached it. I’m still working to get to where I want to get to. I have a long way to go, but I will get there.

Q: Does it drive you nuts that you haven’t scored a touchdown?

A: I got my first 100-yard game out of the way [Week 12 vs. the Patriots], that’s a check mark, but didn’t score yet. It’s not like I’m frustrated, because it’s different up here when you get closer to that red zone. But definitely want to score, and I will score soon.

Q: Do you have a touchdown dance ready?

A: Knowing me, and let’s say I do score, and then I’ll black out and forget it and do something else, so no. If I was working on a touchdown celebration leading onto the week, and I score that Sunday, I’ll forget what dance or whatever I was doing. I’ve always been like that since high school. It’s weird. We will get a dance in there soon.

Q: Do you like cutlets?

A: Do I like cutlets (laugh)? I’m starting to get into the Italian foods. I’m from South Carolina and from the South, so all of this is new to me. I’m getting more into it. Just a little bit I am. I’m not gonna say I’m fully in, but I’m getting there.

Q: What is Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito like in the huddle?

A: Calm, collected. Doesn’t get out of character. We’ll joke around in the huddle whenever it’s TV timeouts. It’s either Saquon [Barkley] or DeVito making jokes during the game. They keep everything not as big as the moment needs to be.

Q: Give me an example of his swag.

A: He puts it on, he puts it on every game day, so I’ll definitely give him that. He changes it up, he’s diverse with the way he wears. You could tell he knows what he’s doing when he puts on clothes. I give him props for that.

Q: What do you make of the way New York-New Jersey has embraced him?

A: I think they should embrace him. It means he’s going out there and he’s playing lights out for us, giving us a chance. You want a confident quarterback. He’s doing that for us, and I’m proud of him, proud of what he has done. This is scratching the surface for him. He has so much potential that I know he’s gonna reach, so hopefully we can help him get that. I feel like he understands what I’m doing on the field and I feel like I understand what he’s thinking as well.

Q: Are you going to grow out your mustache?

A: (Laugh) I’m gonna say yeah. I’m grow it out, then I’ll cut it the next week. I’m working on my beard. Just trying to get it to grow. I’m praying every night.

Q: Why do you want a beard?

A: I just want one. It’s been growing too slow, that’s all.

Q: The receivers drafted in the first round in your draft class: the Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

A: His ability to go left or right, shifty player, smooth player. The first word that comes to me is smooth.

Q: The Vikings’ Jordan Addison.

A: Route runner. Ballin’ like he did when he was at Pitt and when he was at USC.

Q: The Ravens’ Zay Flowers.

A: Baller. His tape speaks for itself, what he’s doing. He’s working that slot, nobody’s gonna be able to cover him one-on-one. It’s definitely different, just his acceleration.

Q: The Chargers’ Quentin Johnston.

A: Big target. He’s fast, elusive.

Q: How do you like playing on the big New York stage?

A: I enjoy it. If you’re winning games and you’re doing your job, obviously it’s the best place to be, but if you don’t go out there and you don’t your job, that’s when the consequences start to happen. You gotta have a tough mind.

Q: What is on your New York City bucket list?

A: I want to see what people think the best steakhouse restaurant is out here. That’s what I’m trying to figure out.

Q: What is the biggest adversity you had to overcome?

A: Not having your best two years in college, and just trying to bounce back from that land try to get to the level you know you can play at. Just believing in myself. Gaining that confidence by doing it.

Q: What was the low point?

A: I’m a competitor, man, when I feel like I’m not doing too much or I feel like it’s on me. Growing from that and looking myself in the mirror and trying to figure out what you’re gonna do, it really helped me.

Q: Most unfair criticism?

A: I think criticism’s a good thing. I use it as fuel, I use it as motivation.

Q: Boyhood idol?

A: I was a big Odell [Beckham Jr.] fan.

Q: Is that why you wear 13?

A: That’s not why I wear 13. The reason why I switched from 84 to 13 is because at that time, this is training camp when the cuts were made, jerseys were available to have, we just got Isaiah Simmons off the trade, and he got 19. I was gonna get 19, I didn’t want to get 13 at first because even though Odell’s my favorite receiver, I feel like he did that with his number, that’s him. I wanted 19, but Isaiah came and he got it, and 13 was the only one open when [David] Sills left. I love low numbers, I wasn’t really big on 84 when I had it, so I went with 13, and I knew a lot will come with it just because of that jersey number. I’m still working to get there, but I love the number so far.

Q: Why was Odell your favorite receiver?

A: He took over games, I think that was the biggest thing. I was in high school watching him play. Me being in high school watching him doing one-hands [catches], and probably averaging 100 yards in that three-year span when he was here, it was fun to watch. I wanted to be one of those guys doing what he was doing. I have three of ’em, actually. I have Randy Moss, DeSean Jackson, Odell Beckham.

Q: Why Moss?

A: Every “go” ball, every post, everything he has, he’s always attacking the ball, and he’s making the contested catches that changes games … he’s Randy Moss.

Q: And DeSean?

A: He kind of reminds me of myself. I’m not there at the level he was playing — he was fast, quick, explosive. His acceleration, his stop-to-go, it was fun to watch. Not only that, he was a flashy player.

Q: How have you improved this season?

A: I feel like my routes have improved, releases. This is my first year being on the outside, I’m used to playing in the slot.

Q: Have you been to New Orleans?

A: Never.

Q: What do you know about it?

A: I just know they have good food.

Q: Playing in the Superdome?

A: It’s always loud. It’s gonna be a fun atmosphere.

Q: Do you think you could have been an NBA player?

A: I tell myself that (laugh). Basketball’s my favorite sport. It’s a little harder to make it in basketball. You not only have to be elite, but you have to be different to be in the NBA. I was good. But was I different? No.

Q: You met Peyton Manning in your sophomore year at Tennessee.

A: I always been a Peyton Manning fan, just through my dad, he was a big Peyton Manning fan. It was definitely a special moment.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Randy Moss, LeBron James, the main character in “Peaky Blinders” [Cillian Murphy].

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Interstellar.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Matthew McConaughey.

Q: Favorite rapper?

A: Gunna.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Definitely steak, medium rare, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Q: What is so great about Hyatt Hotels?

A: (Laugh) Here in the city, the Park Hyatt, that’s one of the luxurious hotels you can go to. It’s a beautiful hotel in the city. They have everything you need. Another thing is just the hospitality, how they treat people, whichever one you go to. I love their breakfast whenever I go to one. I like all of ’em!