The Arizona State Sun Devils take on the TCU Horned Frogs in college football Week 5, with star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson set to be the center of attention again. Ahead of the Big 12 clash, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes heaped praise on the Sun Devils’ standout, with PFSN’s exclusive data confirming an elite comparison set to ignite debate among college football fans.
Sonny Dykes Opens Up on Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson With Elite Comparison
Dykes knows a thing or two about elite wide receivers. His own stud pass catcher, Eric McAlister, earned PFSN Team of the Week honors after a sensational showing in Week 4. Last year, his Horned Frogs had to defend Arizona Wildcats standout Tetairoa McMillan. On Saturday, he has to figure out how to contain Arizona State’s Tyson, a player setting the receiving standard.
In his media availability ahead of the Big 12 clash against the Sun Devils, Dykes was asked to compare Tyson to McMillan, and the TCU head coach didn’t hold back in his praise of the Arizona State pass catcher as he dove headfirst into an elite evaluation.
“They’re different, I mean, they’re similar kinds of skill sets. The Arizona guy was a little taller. This guy is a better after-the-catch runner. Arizona guy was a 50:50 guy, and I think Tyson is just overall a better player. I just think he can do more. He’s got size, he’s got speed, he plays physical. He can go get the ball.”
“But he’s really good, probably his biggest strength is what he can do after the catch, and that’s a little bit different from the guy last year. I think he’s just a really good football player. You can tell he has a lot of fun playing football. Plays with a lot of passion, very competitive. Those kinds of receivers are usually the best kind.”
PFSN Data Showcases Jordyn Tyson Advantage vs. Tetairoa McMillan
According to exclusive PFSN College WRi data, Tyson earned an 83.2 grade (B) while McMillan posted an 81.4 (B-), revealing subtle differences between two receivers who dominated the Big 12. Both players exceeded 1,100 receiving yards, but their paths to production tell distinctly different stories.
Tyson’s PFSN College WRi advantage stems from superior efficiency metrics that extend beyond basic yardage totals. His 1.37 YAC over expected leads McMillan’s 0.69 by a significant margin, confirming Dykes’ assertion that Tyson consistently turns routine catches into explosive gains.
The PFSN College WRi metric adjusts for target depth and situation, meaning Tyson’s 5.9 yards after catch per reception carried additional value given the circumstances of his targets. His 103 total yards above expected in this category represent substantial production that traditional statistics miss entirely.
McMillan was more productive in terms of receiving yards last fall, with 1,319 receiving yards compared to 1,101 for Tyson, but PFSN’s data reveals the underlying context.
McMillan’s 87.1% route participation rate exceeded Tyson’s 75.3%, while his 130 targets compared to the Arizona State receiver’s 113 show greater involvement in Arizona’s passing attack.
However, Tyson’s 32.8% on-field target share surpassed McMillan’s 30.0%, suggesting the Sun Devils concentrated targets more heavily when Tyson was on the field.
The efficiency gap widens when examining yards per route run. Tyson averaged 3.19 yards per route compared to McMillan’s 3.06, a difference that compounds over hundreds of routes throughout a season.
MORE: College Football Power Rankings Ahead of Week 5
This metric captures a receiver’s ability to produce regardless of whether they receive the ball, measuring their impact on every snap. Tyson’s advantage here reflects his route-running precision and quarterback chemistry, consistently creating opportunities.
Reception metrics tell another compelling story about their contrasting styles. The two receivers recorded similar reception percentages, but Tyson’s 8.9 receptions over expected slightly exceeded McMillan’s 10.2 when accounting for target difficulty.
The CROE (Catch Rate Over Expected) metric shows Tyson at 7.92% above expectations versus McMillan’s 7.84%, indicating nearly identical reliability on difficult catches.
Red zone production provides additional context for their 2024 campaigns.
Tyson’s 10 receiving touchdowns outpaced McMillan’s eight despite fewer total targets, while Tyson’s 47.2% red-zone target per route rate significantly exceeded McMillan’s 22.9%. This disparity suggests Arizona State utilized Tyson more frequently in high-leverage scoring situations, contributing to his superior touchdown production and overall efficiency rating.
PFSN College WRi scores are adjusted based on opponent strength, which helped secure Tyson’s elevated ranking last season. The Arizona State wide receiver ended the year as the WR7. Meanwhile, McMillan departed for the NFL on the back of the 21st-ranked campaign.
Ultimately, PFSN’s College WRi metric reveals two elite receivers who achieved success through different approaches. However, Tyson’s efficiency and yards after catch threat make him a more complete pass-catching threat. It certainly appears that the man charged with stopping him in Week 5, Dykes, thinks so too.