TEMPE – When Jordyn Tyson walked across the NFL Draft stage in Pittsburgh earlier this spring, an inevitable question hovered around the future of Arizona State football: Who is next?
For coach Kenny Dillingham, the answer wasn’t found in a single returning player, but in a completely retooled receiver room that wasted no time making a thunderous statement.
Propelled by a flurry of transfer portal additions, the Sun Devils unveiled their revamped aerial attack in a dominant 70-7 blowout victory over Morgan State Saturday night at Mountain America Stadium, providing early evidence, albeit against a lesser opponent, that their new-look perimeter is ready to carry the load and keep the offense as explosive as ever.
Spearheaded by Boston College transfer senior Reed Harris and former Colorado standout Omarion Miller, Arizona State’s fresh look turned what could have been a rebuilding year into an explosive offensive showcase.
The duo combined for 14 catches, 239 yards, and three touchdowns, fueling a Sun Devils passing offense that racked up 432 yards and six scores through the air.
“I was very happy with the effort they gave,” Dillingham said in a postgame news conference. “The number one thing I was proud of was how they played the game, not what plays they made. What separates you is how hard you play and how you play for your teammates. They did just that.”
Operating as the Sun Devils’ most targeted player, Miller quickly established himself as a highly reliable threat. His shiftiness and efficiency with routes allowed him to pace the offense in volume, hauling in a team-high eight receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown.
While Miller consistently moved the sticks underneath with four first downs, Reed Harris looked every bit like the dynamic perimeter weapon Dillingham envisioned when he plucked him out of the ACC.
Utilizing his 6-feet-5 frame with speed and physicality, Harris showed a lot of value not just as a yardage weapon, but with a tight end mix.
“I think my size definitely helps a lot because it makes it easier for them to see me,” Harris said. “Being physical was a lot coming down to me. Like hand fighting at the line of scrimmage, throwing some defenders around, placing some blocks. I’m still working on it, and hopefully it’s all coming together.”
By the time his night ended, he had turned his six catches into a game-high 137 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 22.8 yards per reception.
Overall, 11 Sun Devils had a reception, combining for a total of 432 receiving yards, the team’s most since October 2022 at Colorado.
AJ Ia, Cory Butler Jr., David Avit, Kyson Brown, James Giggey and Jalen Moss all had catches for solid plays, with 80 yards between them.
With six receiving touchdowns and 16.6 yards per 26 completed passes, nearly every passing play Saturday had a big impact.
The ASU receivers did well in the numbers game offensively, but when Kenny Dillingham was asked what stood out most about his new receivers, he instead praised their blocking.
“Watch our wideouts block,” Dillingham said. “That’s what I’m proud of. You can look at the stats. Eight, whatever, 102, cool, awesome. Go watch Raiden Vines-Bright block. Go watch Turbo (Jaren Hamilton) block tonight. Go watch Marquis Gillis on the big play to Rigdon. He was the fake, then ended up a lead blocker for the touchdown. That’s the stuff I’m proud of.”
Along with Harris and Miller, a handful of other transfers made their on-field debuts with Arizona State.
Previously mentioned Raiden Vines-Bright is a sophomore joining the Sun Devils from Washington, and after a 238-yard receiving season in 12 games with the Huskies, Vines-Bright hopes to make an impact with the receiving corps.
Tight end Kristian Ingman transfered from Portland State, where he put up 342 receiving yards in his sophomore year, and Anthony Miller, a tight end as well, came from Tulane, where he logged a touchdown and 60 receiving yards in 2025.
While the receivers had a massive game on Saturday, their credit went to the quarterback for throwing to them. That responsibility was Cutter Boley’s.
In his first game with Arizona State, the sophomore transferred from Kentucky set the record for the most passing yards in a Sun Devils debut.
Boley’s 387 yards and six touchdown passes set a very confident tone for the new-look ASU team, and he thanked the receivers for his performance.
“It’s a blessing, but it’s all credit to these guys,” Boley said. “These guys we have, like running backs and receivers all over the field, just getting these guys hands and letting them do their thing.”
Blowouts against FCS opponents must always be taken with some skepticism, and stiffer competition will arrive as the Sun Devils march into Kyle Field next weekend to take on No. 8 Texas A&M. But this offense took a massive step forward on Saturday night.
Tyson may be playing on Sundays, but replacing his production isn’t falling on just one or two sets of shoulders. It’s in part a reflection of leadership. Assistant coach Hines Ward, a Super Bowl MVP with the Steelers, has made it clear ASU can be a destination for wide receivers.
While Harris and Miller headlined the box score, ultimately 11 Sun Devils recorded a catch in the victory.
From top to bottom, this newly assembled receiving corps shared the spotlight and embraced the physical demands of the new season, showing they are ready to write their own chapter together.
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