P.J. Petersen, Folsom Times

The recruitment of 5-star-rated quarterback prospect Ryder Lyons came full circle on Tuesday when he announced his commitment to sign a National Letter of Intent with the BYU football program. Lyons is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound prospect from Folsom, California whose offer sheet includes just about every top program in the country as the No. 4-rated quarterback nationally by the 247 Sports Network.

Lyons made his commitment to the Cougars known on the nationally-televised Pat McAfee Show live on ESPN.

“They were the first one (to offer) me in the eighth grade,” Lyons said in his interview with McAfee. “They pulled the trigger on me. They believed in me early. It’s crazy how it all comes full circle.”

The recruitment for Lyons has been intense, with USC the assumed leader in the clubhouse for most of the process before both BYU and Oregon rose to the forefront. Lyons made back-to-back official visits to Oregon and then to BYU before opting to commit to the Cougars a few days after returning home from Provo.

“I’m so appreciative and it’s been incredible,” Lyons said of his recruitment. “It’s been a long journey … money wasn’t the biggest part. The biggest part is making it to the NFL.”

P.J. Petersen, Folsom Times

Lyons becomes the first 5-star commitment to the BYU football program since offensive lineman Ofa Mohetau signed with the Cougars as part of the 2003 signing class. Lyons is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has plans to serve a church mission before his planned enrollment at BYU for the 2027 season.

Lyons is a true dual-threat quarterback, having thrown for 6,589 yards and 84 touchdowns during his two years starting for Folsom on top of rushing for 1,514 yards and 37 touchdowns. Lyons plans to complete his senior high school season this coming fall and then begin his mission service immediately after graduating in December.

“In my opinion he’s the best quarterback in the country,” said 247 National Recruiting Analyst Brandon Huffman in an interview conducted by ESPN The Fan. “…Ryder is as dynamic of a quarterback as you’re going to find. He’s a dual-threat quarterback because he’ll make you pay with his legs, and I’ve seen him win games with his legs. But he also has a canon for an arm and dynamite in his elbow. He’s the complete package.”

Lyons is BYU’s top-rated quarterback commitment since Ben Olson signed with the program as part of the 2002 signing class. Olson never played a down for BYU, however, opting to transfer to UCLA following his two-year Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day mission service to Alberta, Canada. The aforementioned Mohetau played sparingly for the Cougars after redshirting his first season before transferring out of the program. He eventually ended up playing for Texas Tech while largely never realizing his recruiting hype.

But a lot of top-rated prospects do pan out, however, with 4 and 5-star rated prospects making up 26 of the first 32 picks of this past year’s NFL draft.

P.J. Petersen, Folsom Times

Lyons headlines an already impressive BYU 2026 signing class that includes 4-star prospects Brock Harris (Pine View High School) and Bott Mulitalo (Lone Peak.) BYU signed three 4-star rated prospects in 2025 in McKay Madsen (Clovis, Calif.), Alai Kalaniuvalu (Las Vegas) and Nusi Tuamoepeau (Westlake High School).

Five-star Folsom High School quarterback Ryder Lyons committed to BYU football on June 24, 2025.

Five-star Folsom High School quarterback Ryder Lyons committed to BYU football on June 24, 2025.

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