When comparing the resumes of Arizona State senior wide receiver Omarion Miller and former ASU wide out Jordyn Tyson, the similarities pop off the page. Both of them started their careers wearing the No. 4 for the University of Colorado, suffered major injuries and didn’t fully realize their full potential before arriving in Tempe.
And, when they throw helmets and pads on, the resemblance is easily noticable. Each one, standing at 6-foot-2 in., is uber-athletic, can stretch the field and run a complete route tree.
It’s likely why it was so easy for Tyson to put on his recruiting hat and help lure Miller to ASU last winter. Tyson’s mentorship lingered into the spring, as he watched Arizona State practices from the sideline, sharing advice with Miller – the next in line to fill his shoes in the wide receiver room.
“His advice is good for me because I feel like I’m following his chops,” Miller said after a spring practice in late April.
Miller embraces the expectations that come with being compared to a player of the caliber of Tyson – who amassed over 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns in his last two seasons as a Sun Devil, despite battling injuries.
He even set a bold goal of becoming a higher draft pick than his predecessor, who landed with the New Orleans Saints at the No. 8 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft back in late April.
Yet, while he’s welcomed the comparisons, Miller has his sights set on meeting another, more personal standard this season – his own.
“For sure, he was the best receiver in the nation, arguably,” Miller said at the end of spring practices on whether he embraces comparisons to Tyson. “But at the same time, I feel like I have expectations for myself. Jordyn’s a great guy, but he’s doing his own thing. I want to be Omarion Miller and be the best I can be.”
The Vivian, Louisiana, native has shown flashes of promise in prior seasons but has yet to eclipse 1,000 yards or 10 touchdowns in a single season. Whether due to injury or lackluster quarterback play, he hasn’t managed to piece together his breakout season in college.
Still, he posted an impressive 18 yards per reception last year, placing him 21st in the category among all qualified FBS players.
With the untapped talent that Miller possesses, his wide receiver’s coach, Hines Ward, is eager to see what the Colorado transfer can do in Tempe. However, to Ward, who has had the opportunity to see Miller grow over the course of the spring into fall camp, it’s his traits that make him enticing.
His approach to reach perfection with every route, every rep and every step reminds Ward of a former superstar talent that graced his room: Jordyn Tyson.
“The one similar trait that they both have is they’re competitive,” Ward said after Day 1 of fall camp. “They’re competitive. They love to compete. They hate to lose. They hate to do wrong.”
This self-intrinsic motivation carries into all aspects of Miller’s preparation. He, alongside senior wide receiver Reed Harris, has emerged as a leader in the room, given their extensive experience and maturity.
“They want it. Just the way they go about every day,” Ward said of what’s impressed him about Miller and Harris. “Both of those guys are true pros. They love to come in to work. They love to work on their bodies. They were one of the first guys in the building this morning. So, as a coach, I think that’s your dream to be able to coach guys that want it just as much as you want it for them.”
The depth of the room, with Harris posing a threat to defenses on the outside, presents a fundamental difference in the experience for Miller at ASU in comparison to Tyson. Even though the Sun Devils had a few solid complementary pieces throughout Tyson’s career, it became abundantly clear that he was the primary read most of the time that the team dropped back to pass.
Now, Arizona State has two alphas in the room, with Miller and Harris poised to pose problems for Big 12 secondaries in 2026.
Understanding of each other’s talents and the sacrifices that may be needed for both to thrive, the pair share immense respect for one another. And given their differing builds and playstyles – Harris is a towering 6-foot-5 jump-ball threat – they relish the opportunity to learn from each other’s skillsets.
“He’s real good with his feet. And he’s got good hands,” Harris said. “I’ll watch him and just see what he does and try and pick up little things. I think my focal point is the jump ball, and I think he’s been watching me.”
And for Miller, who showcases his boldness through the wide variety of colorful shoes he sports and the swagger he exudes while running routes in them, he remains confident that he will be a problem for opposing defenses this fall.
“It’s going to be hard for teams to gameplan against us,” Miller said.
Leave a Reply