It's never a good idea to spike the football too early.
For evaluators touting Arizona State Sun Devils receiver Jordyn Tyson as the best target in the 2026 NFL Draft, early returns were favorable. Summer scouting was validated by his hot start, and he seemed like a lock to be the first receiver taken come April.
His biggest fans didn't miss -- Tyson is among the most talented players in college football. And yet, the chances that he'd be the class' WR1 have fallen after an October hamstring injury.
Jordyn Tyson injury update
Tyson's season was interrupted by a soft-tissue injury. He hasn't played since Oct. 18, appearing in Arizona State's first seven contests.
He was incredible in the season's opening weeks, logging four 100-yard games in that stretch. Generating 57 catches for 628 yards and eight touchdowns (plus another on the ground) is a good season for most players. There will be legitimate draft picks this spring with less production. Doing that before Veterans Day -- with time to spare -- is incredibly impressive.
Fortunately for the Sun Devils, Tyson is approaching a return to action.
"Sources: Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is set to return to practice today and begin individual drills," Pete Thamel reported. "His status is still uncertain to play this weekend against Colorado, as he’s working his way back from a hamstring injury suffered on Oct. 18 against Texas Tech."
Arizona State has fared well in his absence, going 2-1 and continuing to receive AP Top 25 votes. With Colorado and Arizona waiting on the schedule, the Sun Devils' next ranked matchup will come in a bowl game. Tyson may be held out until then, although that's pure speculation, and a revenge game against the Buffaloes would add intrigue to Week 13.
MORE: Kenny Dillingham praises Colorado ahead of their Week 13 matchup
As for the NFL Draft, it would be hyperbolic to suggest that Tyson's stock is tumbling towards Day 2. The tape is great and the production checks the box. He may very well be WR1 when it's all said and done. But missing this much time could push him into the middle of Round 1, rather than a top-10 selection.
Losing time to injury opened the door for USC's Makai Lemon and Ohio State's Carnell Tate to make credible cases as the best receiver in this class. Either one could feasibly push Tyson down the board, usurping him as the top target in 2026.
Perhaps more concerning is Tyson's injury history. A significant knee injury ended his Colorado tenure and all but eliminated his 2023 campaign. In 2024, a collarbone injury held him out of Arizona State's playoff games. Now, a hamstring injury has cost him at least a month of his platform season.
It's hard to blame a team for hesitating on such an important investment, given that trend. As Lemon and Tate continue to rise, Tyson's injury could become a negative tiebreaker for NFL front offices, setting him up for a critical pre-draft circuit. It's worth monitoring Tyson's stock as he gets put under the microscope, even if the tape suggests he should be a slam-dunk first-round pick.
More Arizona State news:
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- Jeff Sims' three touchdowns lifts ASU over West Virginia
- Arizona State defends home turf against West Virginia
- Kenny Dillingham staying at ASU with sister 'next door' and parents '3 doors down'