Ryder Lyons Turns Heads With Major Exposure For BYU Decision

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Ryder Lyons Turns Heads With Major Exposure For BYU Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
BYU Football made a monumental splash on the recruiting trail Tuesday by snagging five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons. The Folsom (California) signal-caller is the highest-rated recruit in program history. Lyons chose BYU over national powers, including Oregon and USC.
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The announcement came live on ESPN's 'The Pat McAfee Show,' sending shockwaves through the recruiting world. Lyons became the first five-star prospect to commit to BYU since 247Sports began ranking recruits in 2010. He is also the No. 13 overall player and No. 4 quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class.
'They were the first ones to offer me, back in eighth grade,' Lyons said on the show. 'They believed in me early. It's crazy how it all comes full circle.'
McAfee is known for his energetic commentary and praised Lyons' maturity and leadership. 'You're a beast,' he said. 'The way you spin it, the way you run and lead your team. It's why every college in the country wants you.'
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Lyons won't be in Provo until 2027 and plans to serve an LDS mission before enrolling at BYU. He spoke candidly about navigating the complexities of NIL opportunities at a young age. He already has an agent and a full support team who navigates every move.
'It's confusing,' Lyons admitted. 'You're thrown a lot of money from a lot of different places. But you've got to stay humble. The goal is to make it to the NFL. That's where the real money is.'
McAfee tipped his cap to Lyons' perspective. 'He's like a 45-year-old,' McAfee said. 'He gets it. He's mature enough to handle the attention and the pressure.'
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Lyons also discussed his plans to submit mission paperwork in August. McAfee reflected on his past conversations with former BYU star Austin Collie, his teammate on the Indianapolis Colts, about LDS missions and culture.
'I believe it's a huge honor... A calling from God,' McAfee said. Lyons responded, 'That is it.'
Related: AJ Dybantsa denies $7 million payout from BYU
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Lyons is coming off a dominant junior season at Folsom High, where he earned California Gatorade Player of the Year honors. He threw for 3,011 yards, 46 touchdowns and just six interceptions, while also rushing for 585 yards and 14 touchdowns.
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Related: BYU Football Beats Out Oregon For Five-Star QB Ryder Lyons' Commitment
With Lyons' pledge, BYU's 2026 class jumped from No. 46 to No. 38 in the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings. The class already includes top-100 prospects Brock Harris, a tight end from St. George, Utah, and offensive lineman Bott Mulitalo from American Fork. Harris picked BYU over Georgia and Alabama, while Mulitalo is set to be the first top-100 offensive lineman to sign with BYU under head coach Kalani Sitake.
BYU enters 2025 with its most talent-rich recruiting class in modern program history.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.