For many of college football's stars, landing at No. 5 on Mel Kiper's list of top 2026 NFL Draft prospects would make it hard to prioritize anything other than playing at the next level.
For Jordyn Tyson, there are other variables to consider, like making sure those around him find success as well.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Tyson spent his first year of college football at the University of Colorado, where he wasted no time making an impact — becoming the first true freshman in school history to record a touchdown catch in the team's season opener and totaling 22 receptions for a team-high 470 yards by the end of the season.
Tyson didn't see the field his first year as a Sun Devil until the next season, the same year that current redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt made his debut, and the rest of ASU's Big 12 title run is history.
Toward the end of what is likely Tyson's final year of college football, he found himself recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered halfway through the season. Not being able to play on Saturdays was a challenge for Tyson, but he still managed to contribute to his team, acting as a mentor to the younger receivers on the roster.
"That's a sign of great leadership, and that's what I've always admired, and that's what I'm pushing (Tyson) to be," ASU wide receivers coach and former NFL great Hines Ward said. "What is your legacy when you leave here? What do you want them to say about you?"
To many, his impact off the field might seem insignificant, but to redshirt freshman Zechariah Sample it's made all the difference in the world.
"Since I've been here, Jordyn's always been a big brother to me," Sample said. "Before the game last week, me and him were catching the ball. We stayed out (and were) almost the last people in there, just catching, catching and catching … I want to be where he's going to be at one day."
Before the injury, Tyson racked up 57 receptions for 628 yards and eight touchdowns through seven games, which had him on pace to surpass the numbers from his breakout 2024-25 season.
In the weeks since, Tyson's made up for his absence on the field by embracing a leadership role while encouraging a team-first mentality.
"(Tyson) just shows by example," redshirt sophomore receiver Derek Eusebio said. "He comes to work every day, no matter if he's hurt or not. We've all been working since January, and he's probably been working one of the hardest."
On Nov. 22, it all came full circle for Tyson. He made his return from injury against his former team with one goal in mind: another win for ASU.
Given the opposition, Tyson felt he needed to say something to his teammates before taking on the Buffaloes Saturday night. He gave FOX 10's Blake Niemann a summary of his pregame speech and explained why he didn't choose to sit out the remainder of the season.
"Love your neighbor as yourself," Tyson said via Blake Niemann on X. "There's some guys that have been dinged up out here, and I expected them to get back on the field, so why, just because I have some projections, why would I not do the same?"
With a front row seat to Tyson's progression over the last few years, Ward couldn't be more proud of the player, teammate and young man he's become.
Now, he hopes to see the younger players follow in Tyson's footsteps.
"When JT comes to you and says, 'Hey, do it like this,' it goes a long way, because they all want to get to the level he's done it at," Ward said. "That's the legacy you leave behind. That's the passing of the torch."
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Senna James and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at holtzingerethan@gmail.com and follow @EthanZinger6 on X.
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Ethan Holtzinger is a sports reporter for The State Press who has previously worked for Cronkite News and the Arizona Interscholastic Association. He is in his 2nd semester with The State Press and 5th semester at ASU.
