When you hear ‘five-star’ and ‘quarterback’ in the same sentence, you know the recruiting scene’s about to explode. And with Ryder Lyons, it’s a full-on inferno. His quarterback trainer, Danny Hernandez, puts it bluntly: “You look at him, and he could easily be a future Heisman Winner.” Seriously, he seems to tick every box fans and coaches dream of. So, naturally, offers are flooding in from the big leagues. This 6-foot-2, 205-pound playmaker, fresh off his Gatorade California Player of the Year win, holds all the cards. Remember Michigan and Oregon, those supposed frontrunners? Yeah, they’re in a holding pattern now. Lyons isn’t just shaking things up; he’s making programs work for his attention. Just when everyone thought they had him pegged, he pulled a fast one.
On March 8th, 247Sports lit up Instagram, hinting at Lyons’ upcoming visits. USC, Michigan, and Oregon are still in the mix, no doubt. But here’s the curveball: he’s exploring all options, and that includes an official visit to an FCS school. Yep, you heard that right.
Lyons flipped the script with a surprising trip (on March 7th) to Brennan Marion’s Sacramento State. Marion, a supposed offensive genius, think Lincoln Riley-level innovator with his “Go-Go offense,” just landed at Sacramento State, aiming to catapult them to FBS. They’re building a new stadium, claiming $35 million in NIL funding, and Marion’s bringing his high-octane playbook from UNLV. And let’s not forget, Lyons just wrapped up a great high school career at Folsom, throwing for 2,874 yards and 44 touchdowns, plus 556 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Why wouldn’t a Heisman-worthy talent want to learn from Marion?
It seems the nation’s No. 4 quarterback and No. 10 overall prospect, according to On3, is playing chess, not checkers. The stakes are sky-high, and Lyons is making sure every move counts.
Now what about Ryder Lyons’ visit to Michigan on April 12-13? Yeah, that could totally shake up his Sacramento State plans. His mom, Kamee Lyons, says they’re “very excited” for the trip, and those two days could definitely change everything. Essentially, Michigan’s quarterback plans got scrambled when their 2026 commit, Brady Hart, jumped to 2025 and picked Texas A&M, right after they secured Bryce Underwood. Consequently, Lyons has now become a top priority for Michigan in Ann Arbor. His versatile skills have drawn comparisons to former Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. And we know very well that Sherrone Moore uses a strategic approach when it comes to recruiting. So there is likely a well-thought-out plan in place.
But here’s the kicker: Despite being a 2026 recruit, Lyons intends to take an LDS mission after high school, which means he won’t be joining college football until 2027. Oregon and Michigan are currently leading the recruitment race, with BYU, Arizona, and USC also waiting in the sidelines. It is worth noting that North Carolina and Bill Belichick have extended offers this offseason, adding more complexity to Lyon’s recruiting trail.
Apart from Michigan, Oregon has been in constant contact with Lyons as they look for other options at the quarterback position after losing Jonas Williams. The Ducks are also in a heated recruiting battle with Georgia for Nashville Christian (Tenn.) five-star quarterback Jared Curtis. However, they definitely caught Lyon’s attention, as he says, “Oregon… pretty much all the time, Coach Lanning, Coach (Will) Stein… pretty great relationship with those two, my whole family, which is pretty incredible.”
Despite USC holding a dominant 97% prediction on On3, the Ducks and Wolverines can at least breathe a little easier knowing they’ve got one less direct competitor to worry about. Even if that competitor is still heavily favored.
Ryder Lyons USC Trojans saga
Ryder Lyons might have rocked a USC towel at the Rivals Camp Series, but the Trojans are no longer the clear favorites in his recruitment. The five-star quarterback from Folsom, California, impressed at the event in Los Angeles, winning the QB MVP award. When questioned about USC being his preferred choice, his response indicated a shift.
Lyons admitted, “Maybe not as much anymore… I’m a little bit more open now.” With Michigan and Oregon turning up the heat, the Trojans suddenly find themselves in a battle they once thought they had already won.
One significant factor is USC’s recent acquisition of four-star QB Jonas Williams from Oregon, which has altered the dynamics in the Trojans’ quarterback lineup. Nevertheless, Lyons is not shying away from the competition. As he says, “They did just flip Jonas Williams, but to be honest, I’m not very scared of competition; there’s going to be competition anywhere I go, so I’m going to have to compete. I know that; I’m very confident in myself. USC’s still in it for sure.” It’s evident that Lyons has family ties to USC, as his older brother, Walker Lyons, is a tight end for the Trojans. But that doesn’t mean he should follow the same path, right?
Let’s be real; we all know USC might not win against Oregon and Michigan when it comes to NIL. And that’s important for Ryder Lyons. As he says, “You’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities that are there, obviously. Anyone who says they’re not is lying. But that’s an important thing—you’ve got to make sure they’re invested in you.”
Just before signing day, Michigan made a major recruiting splash, pulling five-star QB Bryce Underwood from LSU with a multi-million dollar inducement. Meanwhile, Oregon’s got Phil Knight, and the Nike billionaire isn’t pinching pennies either. Now, let’s just wait and see where Ryder finally rides!
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