TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson stands as one of the top pass-catchers available in the 2026 NFL Draft. Yet questions swirl about his toughness after he missed four games in 2025 with hamstring injuries. His coach just delivered a blunt message to every front office: stop doubting the kid.
Dillingham Delivers the Truth on Tyson’s Toughness
Tyson put up 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in just nine games last season. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors for the second straight year. Scouts rave about his 6-foot-2 frame, elite route-running, and willingness to block like a tight end. Some mock drafts slot him inside the top 10 overall.
But the injury cloud lingers. Tyson sat out multiple contests across his college career, including that nagging hamstring that kept him from full NFL Combine workouts. Critics wondered if the 21-year-old could handle the pounding of an NFL Sunday.
Kenny Dillingham would not let that narrative stand. The Sun Devils head coach, who steered ASU to an 8-5 record and a strong Big 12 showing, went off in a recent interview. He painted a picture of a player who showed up every single day.
You could hear the frustration and pride in his voice. Dillingham knows the tape better than anyone. Tyson did not just practice — he dominated targets league-wide for two straight seasons while battling through pain that most fans never saw.
“That dude didn’t miss practice. He was moved around the entire field. I think he’s led the country in targets for two straight years. I’m not really worried about his durability, I’m not worried about his toughness. That kid’s extremely tough. People don’t know he’s played with stitches in his hand. He’s a kid who’s going to block you. Go put on the tape. He’s a football player you want to have on your team. That is a guy who is going to be the face of an organization.” — Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State head coach
Draft Stock, Family Ties, and What’s Next for Jordyn Tyson
Tyson already scheduled a private workout for NFL teams on April 17 at Arizona State — just six days before the draft kicks off. He plans to run positional drills and quiet the noise once and for all. Teams will get a close look at the same player who torched defenses with precise routes and contested catches.
The human side adds extra layers. Tyson is the younger brother of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson. Athletic excellence runs in the family, and that competitive fire shows up every snap. Scouts who dig deeper see a WR who plays with an edge, the kind that lifts entire locker rooms.
Durability questions always matter for wideouts who absorb hits over the middle. Yet Dillingham’s defense lands with weight because it comes straight from the sideline. The coach watched Tyson grind through stitches, tweaks, and tough practices without complaint. That tape — the blocking, the contested catches, the leadership — tells the real story.
As the NFL Draft draws near, general managers face a classic choice. Do they bet on the elite talent who missed time, or pass and watch him light up Sundays for someone else? Right now, the smart money says Jordyn Tyson hears his name called early. And Kenny Dillingham just gave every team the perfect reason to believe.
