Hines Ward knows there is no replacing Jordyn Tyson.
Tyson is a one-of-one. After coming over from Colorado following a serious injury as a freshman, Tyson blossomed into a first-round NFL draft pick under the guidance of Ward as the wide receivers coach at Arizona State.
“You know, there'll never be another JT,” Ward told The Arizona Republic at its annual trip to Payson for Camp Tontozona.
But there’s no denying the connections that some will make with another former Colorado Buff now in the ASU receiver room: Omarion Miller. In the offseason, Miller made the move from Boulder to Tempe via the transfer portal, following the same path as Tyson in 2023.
While Ward said Tyson is a unique player, he sees similarities between the two.
“Both competitors. JT, he hates losing. He hates any DB covering him one time and talking trash to him. He wants to redo it right then and there. Similarities are the same. Always extremely competitive, wants to win every time. He wants to make sure he's in the right spot making plays. I try not to compare people. People have their own little style to them.”
Echoing what he said about Tyson, Ward ended his answer with, “There'll probably never be another Omarion.”
The connections between Miller and Tyson extend further. During his visit to Colorado, Miller was hosted by none other than Tyson.
When Tyson made the move to ASU, Miller kept tabs on him. While he was busy with his own season at Colorado, Miller couldn’t help but notice how well Tyson was doing with the Sun Devils.
“I definitely watched him during our season, being that during that season he was one of the better receivers in that class, so I kept an eye on him,” Miller told The Republic. “Happy for him, he's in the league doing what he can. Wish I would have got a chance to play with him.”
Seeing what Ward and the coaching staff did with Tyson, turning him “into an overall receiver,” is what drew Miller to the school.
“Once he came here, the three years, the development that I've seen him change from was eye-catching to me,” Miller said.
Miller is coming off his best season yet at the college level, with 45 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. He was regarded as a four-star transfer prospect and was seen as one of the biggest additions of the offseason for ASU. Miller was named to the All-Big 12 preseason team for the upcoming season.
At 6-foot-2 and weighing 215 pounds, Miller’s build is similar to Tyson (6-foot-2, 200). Miller has the speed to break away from defenders but can also take a hit across the middle of the field with his frame.
“Very elusive,” Ward said. “For his size, to be able to move, to be able to run, to change direction, and then, of course, exceptional ball skills. Watching him when we played Colorado last year, it just stood out on tape. I'm extremely happy to work with somebody with his skill set. He’s just an all-around football player. I'm giving him the blueprints. Hopefully, he can go out there and help win some games for us.”
Miller has drawn the attention of coach Kenny Dillingham, who recently said at Camp T, “He’s been great. He’s pushed himself a lot this camp.”
At this time last year, Miller said he viewed himself mainly as an “X” receiver, the position that lines up on the outside. But Miller now feels like he is an “all-around” wide receiver who can play anywhere on the field.
It’s been part of Miller’s growth, both on and off the field, after joining the Sun Devils.
“O’s a special dude,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said. “Obviously, we all know about the skill set, right? I think his best attributes are, probably, the person. That's the piece you don't know about when you go out and you're in the transfer portal. You try to do the best background you can. But until you fuse them into your culture, you really don't know what's going to take shape.
“And he is a beautiful human. Awesome young man. Loves to work on and off the field. Carries the standards, carries our identity as an offense and a culture to the utmost. He does all the skill set stuff we know about. He hasn't been very long, and he's totally committed to being part of our culture and our team that fast. That's exactly what you hope to get.”
Ward said Miller has grown tremendously since coming to Tempe in January. Players gravitate toward Miller and he’s already become a key piece of the locker room. A viral video in March of a Miller one-handed catch on a punt certainly helped.
Not a single snap has been played yet for 2026. But Ward has a way of looking ahead. Only a few months after being hired at ASU, Ward said about Tyson, “We haven’t scratched the surface of how good he can really be as an individual and as a football player.”
Ward feels similarly about Miller.
“His ceiling's so high, all the abilities there,” Ward said. “He can play at the next level. Now, it's just honing in the good habits, understanding what it takes to get to that level, to take care of your body, to jump in the playbook, what you do on a daily basis, basically being a pro at it. He's learned, he's grown since January. But all I've seen is taking strides and taking steps forward.”
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Next Jordyn Tyson? Former Colorado WR hopes to follow same path at ASU