A grounded Jordyn Tyson grows as a leader, inspires confidence

For junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, game day starts with a moment of calm. Before kickoff, he walks the field, soaking in the feel of the natural grass beneath his feet. It’s a ritual, he says, that keeps him grounded.

“I just love grass,” Tyson explained. “I feel like it’s better for your knees, ankles, feet. I’ve always been a grass person. It clears my mind before the game.”

That calm has already been tested in the opening weeks of Arizona State’s season. Against Mississippi State, the Sun Devils clawed back from an early 17–0 deficit, only to see the game slip away late. The crushing loss ended with MSU fans storming the field against then-No. 12 Arizona State, delivering a sobering reality check for the team.

For Tyson, the takeaway was less about the result and more about how he and the team responded to being down. 

“I feel like I didn’t play too well in the first half, but I came out in the second half playing better,” Tyson said. “Last year, I probably wouldn’t have responded as well. I just leaned on the work and kept going.”

That shift toward focusing on the positives rather than the negatives reflects his growth as a leader, an evolution just as significant as his on-field performance. Since being baptized in the offseason, he says his renewed faith has given him a fresh perspective, helping him navigate the highs and lows of the sport with greater balance. 

“I used to let my emotions be based on my performance,” Tyson recalled. “Now I know my identity isn’t as a football player. My identity is in Christ. That gives me peace no matter what happens.”

That perspective also shapes the way he interacts with teammates, particularly sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt, who shouldered much of the criticism after throwing two interceptions in Starkville. 

Tyson made clear his role is to build Leavitt up, not add to the weight. “I would never say anything negative to Sam,” Tyson noted. “He’s so hard on himself, he doesn’t need it. It’s always just positive talk — ‘we got it, next drive.’ He’s the ultimate competitor, and you have to believe he’s going to bounce back.”

Tyson pointed to the second half against Mississippi State as evidence of the team’s character. The Sun Devils leaned on the ground game, piecing together a nine-minute drive in the fourth quarter filled with downhill runs that came up just short of the end zone. “We definitely found an identity,” Tyson stated. “We’re competitors. We’re always going to fight.”

That mindset carries into this week as Arizona State prepares for Texas State, the same opponent against whom Tyson recorded his first 100-yard receiving game as a Sun Devil last season. Tyson said the offense is still working to develop balance. While the run game has carried them early, he believes the passing attack will catch up.

“We’ve missed some deep balls, but we’re going to connect,” Tyson said. “I’ve got full belief in our offense. We’re going to be just fine.”

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Senior linebacker Keyshaun Elliott put together one of his best performances in maroon and gold against Mississippi State, finishing with a team-high eight tackles and a sack. Yet even a personal best wasn’t enough to satisfy him; Elliott values team success far above individual stats.

“I think it was one of my better games here at this program,” Elliott said. “I felt confident, my keys were good, my eyes were good, my footwork was better. That’s when my best football is played. But we didn’t finish the job, so none of that really matters.”

The early deficit quickly became a test of the Sun Devils’ resilience. Trailing 17–0 in the first half, they faced a hole that could have rattled a less experienced team and led to a blowout. Yet Elliot said what impressed him most was the defense’s response. 

“Being down 17–0 is not an easy position to be in,” Elliott said. “But we just sat down, pulled out the iPads, and looked at what we needed to fix. That poise is why we put ourselves back in the game.”

Noise in the stadium, amplified by Mississippi State’s cowbells, presented an added challenge. All week, the matchup had drawn attention in the sports media after clips went viral of ASU using cowbells in practice, preparing for how to handle the deafening atmosphere. The impact on ASU was clear from the opening kickoff, as a packed Mississippi State crowd in Starkville made sure the Sun Devils felt every ounce of their intensity.

The linebacker, a key communicator on the defense who also receives sideline instructions through his helmet speaker, admitted it took time for the unit to adjust, but eventually the team found its rhythm. “It was one of the best atmospheres I’ve played in—loud, fun, and the crowd was in it the whole game,” Elliot described.

Long stretches on the field tested the defense further, as the offense struggled to sustain drives. While the points allowed somewhat overshadowed their effort, Elliot stressed that the team’s mindset remains unchanged—they’ll always have each other’s backs.

“Even if the offense scores 60, we don’t want to give up a touchdown,” Elliot explained. “At the end of the day, it’s a team sport. If they’re struggling, we have to back them up. And there will be times when we struggle, and they’ll back us up.”

Even off the field, leadership mattered. Head coach Kenny Dillingham’s positive approach stood out to Elliot in the locker room after the loss. “There’s always a lot of emotions after a loss,” Elliot commented. “But Coach did a great job lifting us up and reminding us there’s still a lot in front of us.”

Looking ahead to Texas State in a crucial rebound week, a year after allowing 28 points to the Bobcats and narrowly escaping with a three-point win, Elliot knows the defense can’t afford to let up.

“They’re a good football team with an explosive offense,” Elliot said. “We’ve got to come prepared. If we can play with the effort and discipline we showed in the second half, we should be able to carry that standard every week.”