BYU Football Lands USC Transfer Walker Lyons
Jan 9, 2026, 12:17 PM
BYU football picked up a commitment from USC transfer TE Walker Lyons. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU football has landed a commitment from transfer tight end Walker Lyons.
Lyons comes to BYU after spending the past two seasons at USC.
Walker Lyons commits to BYU Football
He announced his commitment to BYU on Instagram, posting, “locked in @byufootball.” The post also featured an image of him wearing a 1996 BYU football uniform as a child. Walker’s father, Tim Lyons, was a member of that 1996 BYU team.
View this post on Instagram
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound tight end was a former four-star recruit out of Folsom High School. He was a top priority in BYU’s 2023 recruiting efforts before he ultimately signed with the Trojans out of high school.
However, those old connections in high school recruiting allowed for BYU to reconnect with Lyons quickly when he entered the portal this month.
Lyons is the older brother of BYU quarterback signee Ryder Lyons, the Gatorade Player of the Year in California. The younger Lyons brother is expected to matriculate at BYU in 2027 after serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Walker has two years of college eligibility remaining, giving him the opportunity to be on the same team as his younger brother in 2027.
Opportunity to be TE1 for BYU
Heading into 2026, Walker Lyons has a great opportunity to step into the role left behind by Carsen Ryan, who no longer has any eligibility. Lyons had 20 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns this past year for a USC team that finished 9-4 in 2025.
BYU football lands commitment from USC transfer TE @walkerly0ns. pic.twitter.com/wPCNpE0UBM
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 9, 2026
He started in four games for the Trojans and appeared in all 12 games.
Lyons joins a BYU football offense that has retained its top players, including running back LJ Martin, quarterback Bear Bachmeier, and leading receiver Parker Kingston.
BYU now has two transfer portal commitments, both from Big Ten Conference programs. Lyons joins former Oregon wide receiver transfer Kyler Kasper as BYU’s portal commitments.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
