TEMPE — Less than two weeks remain until the Arizona State Sun Devils see at least four players selected in the 2026 NFL draft – the anticipation has truly reached a fever pitch amongst the fanbase as of late.

Arizona State’s rapid rise from a struggling program into a truly respected destination for player development under Kenny Dillingham has been awe-inspiring, though the top prospects out of the program took paths to this point that are now uncommon in the sport’s current landscape.

Jordyn Tyson

Tyson began his career with the Colorado Buffaloes – serving as one of the lone bright spots in their 2022 season. However, a knee injury and a coaching change led Tyson to move to Arizona State during the spring of 2023.

While Tyson was a four-star prospect in the transfer portal, he remained slightly unheralded as the 20th-ranked player at the position in that cycle. The Texas native worked for months on end to return from the injury and saw his fortunes change for the better when Hines Ward was hired as wide receivers coach in April of 2024.

Ward played an instrumental role in Tyson making a statement during his All-Big 12 season in 2024, as the then redshirt sophomore showed refinement as a route runner, was exceptional as a run blocker on the outside, and consistently displayed football IQ that transcends what is typically seen from a young wideout.

Now, Tyson is projected to be a first-round selection in less than two weeks and is very likely to be the vessel that turns Arizona State into a reliable producer of elite wide receivers at the NFL level.

Keith Abney II

Abney was a three-year member of the Arizona State program after flipping his commitment from Utah State to ASU very late in the recruiting process (December 2022). He played sparingly early on as a freshman before seeing an uptick in snap share as the season progressed.

The three-star recruit was always seen as slightly undersized as a boundary player, but Abney’s work ethic, as well as exceptional coaching from CB coach Bryan Carrington, led to a 2024 season viewed as a quality showing from start to finish.

Abney capped off his career with an elite 2025 season that is one of the best individual seasons for a defender at ASU since Will Sutton in 2023. Hard work, incredible coaching, and being patient in the process have resulted in Abney now being a projected day two pick in the draft – he’s surely not the last standout at cornerback to be in this position moving into the future.

Max Iheanachor

Iheanachor’s journey from transitioning from playing soccer to football is truly incredible. The native of Nigeria began his football career in 2021 at the junior college level before joining Arizona State in 2023.

OL coach Saga Tuitele took a similar approach to Iheanachor’s development as the program did with Abney – the result was undoubtedly positive, as the 6’5″ tackle starred at right tackle in the 2024 season and took 484 snaps in 2025 without allowing a single sack. This is simply a reflection on the development process paying dividends in a brief period of time, and now Iheanachor is poised to be the first of many lineman prospects that Tuitele cultivates into an NFL player.

Keyshaun Elliott

Elliott has been underrated his entire football career, as he joined New Mexico State in 2022 as a two-star recruit before transferring to Arizona State following his sophomore season.

Elliott transformed from a high-volume tackler into an all-around stud at the position that paced the team in sacks in 2025 under the leadership of A.J. Cooper. Elliott was truly one of the most cerebral players at the off-ball linebacker spot in Tempe since Merlin Robertson, and is now slated to build a lengthy NFL career off of being a diverse player who is just as strong a leader.

Players such as Owen Long, Martell Hughes, and even Isaiah Iosefa are in position to extend Cooper’s track record as a talent developer – this fits a consistent mold that has taken shape at ASU under Dillingham.

Before the season, Big 12 coaches predicted TCU would win the conference with Arizona finishing second. Neither team has lived up to those expectations so far, but for one night the Wildcats looked the part of a contender.

The UA won 4-3 at TCU on Friday night in the opener of a 3-game series, only the second time in Big 12 play it has started off a weekend with a win. And combined with Wednesday’s victory over New Mexico State gives the Wildcats (12-21, 4-9) their first consecutive wins since mid-March

A sacrifice fly by Maddox Mihalakis scored pinch runner TJ Adams in the top of the 9th, then in the bottom of the inning Garrett Hicks stranded the tying run at third base and the winning run at second with a strikeout.

Mihalakis drove in two runs, as did No. 9 hitter Mathis Meurant, while Tony Lira was 4 for 5 for Arizona, which led 3-1 before TCU (20-13, 7-6).

Those tying runs came against starter Owen Kramkowski, who had one of his best starts of the season. The junior right-hander struck out nine and didn’t allow a walk over 6.2 innings, retiring 12 in a row at one point before the Horned Frogs recorded four hits in the 7th including back-to-back run-scoring singles with two out.

Maclain Roberts finished out the 7th and then threw a scoreless 8th to get the win, then Hicks picked up his fourth save.

Arizona and TCU will play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 12 p.m. PT, a change in the schedule due to rain in the forecast on Sunday. One win will give the Wildcats their first Big 12 series win this season.

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Diana Taurasi, the iconic Phoenix Mercury player who spent her entire 20-year WNBA career with the team, was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame on April 9. Taurasi, a three-time WNBA champion and six-time Olympic gold medalist, was celebrated for her immense impact on the Mercury and women’s basketball in Arizona.

Why it matters

Taurasi’s induction into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame is a testament to her unparalleled achievements and legacy with the Phoenix Mercury. As one of the greatest players in WNBA history, her selection highlights the Mercury’s status as a premier franchise and the growth of women’s professional sports in the state.

The details

Taurasi was drafted by the Mercury as the No. 1 overall pick in 2004 and went on to lead the team to three WNBA championships in 2007, 2009, and 2014. She was named WNBA Finals MVP in 2009 and 2014, and WNBA MVP in 2009. Outside of the Mercury, Taurasi represented the U.S. national team, winning six Olympic gold medals, the most of any U.S. basketball player.

• Taurasi was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame on April 9, 2026.
• Taurasi will be inducted into the Mercury’s Ring of Honor on August 16, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Taurasi will be inducted into the Phoenix Mercury’s Ring of Honor on August 16, 2026, joining other franchise legends.