Per week in the past, Arizona State extensive receiver Jordyn Tyson introduced on Instagram that he was declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, forgoing his last season of eligibility. Tyson is projected to be a consensus first-round decide and is assumed by many to be the clear WR1 of the category.
Initially a three-star prospect out of Allen HS (TX), Tyson had a sluggish begin to his recruitment. In a talent-rich space of a particularly talent-rich state, Tyson solely noticed provides rolling in from the likes of Sam Houston State, Campbell, New Mexico, Tulsa, Texas State, and Colorado State. So, in the summertime earlier than his senior season, when Tyson took an official go to to Colorado and earned a suggestion over a month later, Tyson dedicated to the Buffaloes and then-head coach Karl Dorrell.
In one among Colorado’s worst seasons in program historical past, Dorrell was fired solely 5 video games into what can be a one-win season. When new head coach Deion Sanders arrived, prompting one of many largest mass replacements in school soccer historical past that noticed 57 outgoing transfers changed by 52 incoming pupil athletes, Tyson joined the gang in looking for a brand new residence. Fortunately for the true freshman, Tyson’s final three video games put up some fairly enticing movie for the portal as he mixed for 13 catches, 344 yards, and two touchdowns over that span.
Tyson discovered his technique to Tempe within the switch portal however was restricted to solely three video games in 2023 on account of harm and needed to take a redshirt yr because the Solar Devils struggled to a 3-9 season following the implosion of star freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada. Final yr, Arizona State rebounded 11-3 with a berth within the School Soccer Playoff because of breakout campaigns from a redshirt sophomore Tyson and switch operating again Cam Skattebo. Recording a team-leading 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns, Tyson delivered the primary 1,000-yard receiving season for a Solar Satan since Brandon Aiyuk‘s 2019 marketing campaign.
With Skattebo off to the NFL, all eyes had been on Tyson to see what he may do in 2025 as the primary occasion in Tempe. Sadly, a hamstring harm held him out of three-and-a-half video games this season, however Tyson nonetheless dominated when on the sector, main Arizona State as soon as once more with 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns. Following his declaration, Tyson’s anticipated to sit down out his crew’s New 12 months’s Eve bowl recreation, these numbers for 2025 needs to be last.
Bulking and rising right into a 6-foot-2, 200-pound body over his years as a Solar Satan, Tyson excites scouts along with his professional potential. With robust top-end velocity and elite route-running, Tyson is usually an open goal, however much more irritating for defensive backs is that — even when he’s blanketed by protection — Tyson is without doubt one of the NCAA’s finest when successful on the catch level and outmuscling the protection for 50-50 balls.
The draft’s potential WR1 isn’t good, although. A difficulty with drops (5 as a real freshman in 2022) adopted him from Boulder to Tempe as he logged seven drops in his first full season for the Solar Devils after redshirting. Scouts had been hoping to see main enchancment in that area this yr, and Tyson delivered, solely dropping one go on 100 targets as he discovered from probably the greatest in extensive receivers coach Hines Ward.
The harm points all through his profession might throw up a pink flag, as nicely. After knee points compelled his redshirt in 2023, a collarbone harm compelled him to overlook Arizona State’s playoff push final yr, so this yr’s hamstring subject is barely the most recent problem Tyson has labored by. The 21-year-old has proven sufficient, although, that his excessive ceiling might silence any issues scouts might have about his sturdiness.
Thus far within the pre-draft course of, Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked Tyson as his WR1 and his eighth-best total prospect in his midseason rankings, two slots above his WR2, Carnell Tate of Ohio State. A couple of weeks later, ESPN’s Matt Miller gave Tate WR1 respect as his No. 8 total prospect with WR2 Tyson coming in at No. 14. Miller’s ESPN peer Mel Kiper Jr. sided with Brugler, although, as he gave the nod to Tyson as his seventh-best total prospect with Tate slotting in at No. 9 total.
The 2 have a number of months to make their case to be the primary pass-catcher whose identify known as on that fateful Thursday night time in Pittsburgh. Tyson will probably be working to get as wholesome as doable in preparation to fight any questions on his well being within the interviews to come back. It’s one of many few issues he can do as he’s already put a number of the NCAA’s finest soccer on movie over the previous two years.
