Deion Sanders Gives Major Endorsement to Top WR Prospect Ahead of NFL Draft

The NFL draft is just days away, and this is typically when prospects begin to rise up draft boards at the last minute, while others slide.

On Monday, Colorado Buffaloes head coach and NFL icon Deion Sanders appeared to endorse one player expected to be taken in the first round on Thursday night: Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.

Tyson played at Colorado as a freshman in 2022 before transferring ahead of Sanders' arrival in 2023. Still, there appears to be no hard feelings.

"Jordyn Tyson is different," Sanders posted on X.

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Tyson is projected to be one of the top two wide receivers taken off the board. However, in ESPN's latest mock draft by Jordan Reid, he has Tyson going No. 16 overall in the first round to the New York Jets, while Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate - the other top prospect at the position - lands at No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns.

Across three active collegiate seasons and 33 career games, Tyson recorded 158 receptions for 2,283 yards and 23 touchdowns. He averaged 14.4 yards per catch, with 1,812 of those yards coming over three seasons at Arizona State.

On ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s big board of top prospects, however, Tyson comes in at No. 7 - just ahead of Tate, who ranks No. 8.

"Tyson's superpower is being open even when it looks like he's completely blanketed," Kiper wrote. "It makes him essentially uncoverable in the red zone. He wins 50-50 balls and outmuscles defensive backs. A hamstring injury cost him time last season, but he still posted solid numbers."

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 12:50 PM.