Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson aims to emulate Hines Ward's NFL success as he prepares for the 2026 NFL Draft. He recently participated in a flag football camp for high school girls in Pittsburgh, promoting opportunities in the sport.
Key points
Jordyn Tyson is a receiver from Arizona State.
He is mentored by Hines Ward, a Steelers legend.
Tyson participated in a flag football camp in Pittsburgh.
He is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The camp aimed to empower high school girls in football.
Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson arrived in Pittsburgh on Wednesday for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tyson partnered with the 2026 Toyota NFL Draft Flag Football Training Camp, which invited Pittsburgh-area high school girls flag football players for a chance to receive instruction. It's the kind of work Tyson's mentor, Arizona State receivers coach Hines Ward, made part of his career as a 14-year veteran with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I think this is a great event,” Tyson told The Sporting News. “I feel like girls getting the opportunity to do their thing on the football field is an amazing thing. I hope it keeps growing and growing."
Tyson is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he's benefited from two years with Ward — the NFL's 2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year and a Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver — along the way.
While a direct comparison between Tyson and Ward is unfair this early, the connection between coach and player should help in the future.
Ward finished with 1,000 receptions for 12,083 yards and 85 TDs as a two-time Super Bowl champion with Pittsburgh. He spent the last two seasons at Arizona State's receivers coach – where Tyson blossomed into a star receiver after transferring from Colorado.
Tyson is the younger brother of Jaylon Tyson – a guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers – and Barron – who played running back and defensive back at South Alabama. Jordyn Tyson had 75 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 TDs in 2024 before suffering a broken clavicle against Arizona in the regular-season finale. He finished with 61 catches for 711 yards and eight TDs.
According to Pro Football Focus, Tyson had 14 contested catches on 24 contested throws on passes of 10 yards or more the last two seasons – a 58.3% success rate that will be an asset at the next level.
“I think I'm a big receiver. A lot of people don't really know, but I'm 6-2, 205,” Tyson said. “I feel like I just play big. That means when the ball is in the air, I'm going up and getting it. That's what it is.”
Tyson learned the routine of a professional receiver over the last two years from Ward.
“That’s the big thing that sticks out — having a set regimen that you lean on every week,” Tyson said. “I would just say seeing him every day — seeing how tough he really is. Everybody knows he was a good blocker. Everybody knows he was a dawg. He really takes practice very, very, very seriously. He wants you to go hard on every play. He wants you to finish every play. Just seeing that in real life was pretty cool to be a part of."
Ward was recognized as one of the best blocking receivers — arguably in NFL history — and that philosophy carried over with the Sun Devils. Tyson graded at 70% or better in blocking in five games for Arizona State last season.
“It’s a no-block, no-rock system,” Tyson said. “He basically made it important. If we get the safety out of there and the corner is 1-on-1 with the running back, shoot, the running back is going to win 10 out of 10 times, so he’s definitely taught me a lot technique-wise."
Tyson would not divulge the actual phrase Ward uses, but he cleaned it up with “Sit your butt and drive.”
Tyson is projected to be a first-round pick Thursday – fittingly in Pittsburgh. Sporting News' final NFL Mock Draft has the New York Giants selecting Tyson with the No. 10 pick. Tyson knows Ward is still beloved among Steelers' fans. Tyson is hoping a NFL franchise feels the same about him in the future.
"I feel like Hines built his brand the right way based on the right things in terms of toughness and giving it your all on the field, blocking your tail off and being unselfish," Tyson said. "I definitely want to build my brand and my legacy the same way — just stuff things the right way and do right by people. That would be amazing. I think I can do it."
Jordyn Tyson partnered with Toyota for the NFL NFL Draft Flag Football Training Camp on Wednesday. Toyota will cover NFL Flag fall registration fees for current players in the Pittsburgh Flag Football League (PFFL) coed youth and high school girls leagues. "(It's) giving the girls something they can do so they can also enjoy the fun and the game of football, so I think it's amazing what Toyota is doing,” Tyson said.
