Positional analysis: Jordyn Tyson ready to take the next level, but can other receivers step up for Sun Devils?

The Big 12 has always been littered with big names at the wide receiver position, but Arizona State is in a rare situation of entering this season with perhaps the most revered pass catcher in the conference in Jordyn Tyson. 

After an injury ended Tyson’s 2024 season early, causing him to miss the postseason, Arizona State was forced to confront just how thin their receiving corps was without him. They went to work in the offseason, adding Fresno State transfer Jalen Moss and two underclassmen from Alabama and Clemson. 

While Tyson, who was just named a second team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, will undoubtedly be the top dog in this Sun Devil passing attack, Kenny Dillingham hopes that he’s found some impact players to supplement the star receiver. Our own Andrew Hayslett and David Howman break down the position group and how it’s built behind Tyson. 

Hayslett: The wide receiving room had to have a bit of a retooling around Tyson. The Sun Devils lost Xavier Guillory and Melquan Stovall due to graduation, who were the number two and three receivers. They brought in a trio of transfers who could all be the number two guy at the end of the year. Redshirt Senior Malik McClain also could get the number two slot, as he took a redshirt year last season before appearing in the postseason.

We’ve already talked about how Leavitt will be throwing the ball more with star running back Cam Skattebo gone. That means that one of those four receivers could break out and have a season near 1,000 yards, but I do not think that will be the case. I tend to think that there will be a committee for the majority of the year, so that the Sun Devils can have certain guys have breakout games, leaving other defenses not knowing what to expect. Another factor that will hinder the receivers from emerging is that Arizona State will have a tight-end-heavy offense.

Howman: I’m inclined to agree with you there. Obviously Tyson is going to be The Guy in the passing game; his chemistry with Sam Leavitt is already off the charts, but Tyson also added 10 pounds of muscle this offseason while seeing his top speed (according to GPS trackers) increase 1.5 MPH. I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think Tyson could lead the entire Big 12 in receiving this year. 

I’m very intrigued by Moss, though. He topped 700 yards back in 2023, his first year playing real games for Fresno State. His totals dropped to 563 yards last season, but the Bulldogs were playing with an interim head coach in place. To me, Moss has the pure talent to hit 1,000 yards receiving, but I’m not sure the opportunity will be there. Either way, his status as the top receiving option after Tyson should be locked up before too long, if it hasn’t happened already. 

After Tyson and Moss, though, it gets pretty murky in my eyes. 

Hayslett: I agree with you on Moss being the guy after Tyson. He had a good spring that saw him work as a primary receiver and returning kicks and punts as well. He will definitely have an impactful role on the Sun Devils. Moss will likely work the slot being the de facto replacement to Melquan Stovall. 

On the outside I think McClain will have the edge over redshirt freshman Jarren Hamilton as the replacement for Xavier Guillory. McClain only had two receptions last season but they were both over 40 yards, showing he can make impact plays with his 6’5” frame. Hamilton has shown he can make plays as well in spring ball.

Like I said earlier I feel many guys will be impactful from the receiver room. Redshirt sophomores Noble Johnson and Derek Eusebio will likely have a game or two where they shine. As for the true freshman I like Cory Butler Jr. the most, but I’m not sure any of them will get playing time. In his first years as wide receiver coach, Hines Ward took the room to a different level than what they were in 2023. Ward already looks to have raised the level even further approaching his second season. 

Howman: I think there’s going to be a lot of chances for situational deployment of guys after Tyson and Moss, like you outlined. McClain and Johnson both have great size, which can help in the red zone and on deep shots, while guys like Hamilton and Eusebio are more shifty types who could offer value in catch-and-run situations. 

One name I think is being overlooked by many is Zechariah Sample. A former track star out of Texas, Sample can scoot. Whereas McClain and Johnson can be that physical type to snag 50/50 balls downfield, Sample has the speed to simply run past you. An effective utilization of him on deeper routes could also open up things underneath for Tyson and Moss, making an impact without even necessarily needing to touch the ball. 

Still, the Sun Devils don’t seem to have an overwhelming frontrunner to be that third receiver in this offense right now. However, as you alluded to earlier, the tight end position and how Arroyo runs this offense can help offset any issues we might see with receiver impact beyond Tyson and Moss. We’ll dive into the tight end group soon, so be sure to check back for that piece.