TEMPE — Jordyn Tyson is entering spring camp fully healthy and in a defined leadership role, the Arizona State receiver said on Monday.
“I’m 100% back. Just got cleared, so I’ll be full go in spring ball,” Tyson said. “It was a little journey. It wasn’t nothing like my knee or anything, but I’m back. … No problems at all knowing it’s behind me. I’ve fought through adversity before, so I’m shaped for this.”
Tyson suffered a shoulder injury in the second half of the 2024 Territorial Cup while the Sun Devils held a 35-7 lead after he had tallied 143 yards and one touchdown on eight catches.
The favorite target of quarterback and new roommate Sam Leavitt, he missed the Big 12 Championship against Iowa State as well as the following College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Texas as a result of the injury.
“My goal is just to stay healthy this season, so when we do play Texas again in the playoffs, I’ll be there,” Tyson said ahead of spring camp starting on March 25.
He accounted for nearly one-third of ASU’s receiving yards in 2024, with 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns on 75 catches. Over the final eight weeks of the regular season, he led the nation in receiving yards.
Jordyn Tyson named to leadership council after breakout season
Seven of the 12 players are expected to return from last year’s Tillman Leadership Council that was heavily involved in operations decision making.
And while it’s not a given that all seven will again be on the council — which Kenny Dillingham said last year can fluctuate in quantity depending on how many players are voted onto it — Tyson broke the news on Monday that he’s one of the new faces.
“I’m part of the leadership council now, so they look at me as a leader and I need to be more vocal as a leader,” Tyson said. “I naturally lead by example, I feel like. That’s just how I’ve always been, but just talking to the young guys, picking their minds and stuff like that. I feel like that’s where I need to step up.”
One of the first things that Tyson has noticed as a leader is how quickly the new receivers have picked up the offense, with transfer addition Jalen Moss (Fresno State) saying he’s just a short ways away from a level of comfort.
“It took me a little while to get used to some of the things, but a lot of things are the same,” Moss said on Monday. “Terminology’s different, but you know, hand signs, the route concepts are all similar to what I came from with (former Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford) and his offensive scheme.
“But I’m coming along with it, you know, it’s coming along. We got about a couple (more) installs and then I’ll be good.”
Wide receivers coach Hines Ward said earlier in the month he’s going to be on Tyson’s case as much as possible because he knows what he is capable of.
“I think for Jordyn, it’s more of him versus him, you know, the act of contentment. Just because you had a phenomenal year, you still got to go and work harder each day,” Ward said on March 6. “I’m constantly on Jordyn about doing the little things right.
“I look for him just being an ultimate pro, being more of a leader on the football field,” Ward added. “He always likes to get in the back of the line (in practice). I said, ‘It’s time for you to get in the front of the line. I need you to start going first on all the drills and leading by example, and then the rest will follow you.’”
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