5-Star QB Ryder Lyons Shocks Fans with Unexpected College Commitment – You Won’t Believe Where!

Imagine a fortress where the roar of the crowd feels like a tidal wave crashing down on you—College Football’s most intimidating stadiums set the stage for gridiron glory. Now, what if I told you that amidst all that pressure, a five-star signal-caller from sunny California just made a jaw-dropping decision that shakes up the recruiting world? Ryder Lyons, a powerhouse QB ranked fifth overall in the 2026 class, bypassed traditional SEC and Big Ten powerhouses like Alabama and Oregon to commit to BYU. Yes, BYU—a school that hasn’t seen a five-star quarterback commit in nearly two decades. This isn’t just a commitment; it’s a bold statement, a curveball thrown straight into the heart of college football’s recruiting hierarchy. With arm talent, agility, and the kind of leadership that has scouts buzzing, Lyons could be the next game-changer on a national scale. So, what does this mean for BYU and the future of college football recruiting? Buckle up, because this wild ride is just beginning. LEARN MORE

Ryder Lyons, a five-star quarterback out of California in the 2026 recruiting class, announced his official college commitment on Tuesday.

It’s a surprising one.

Lyons, a 6-foot-2.5 quarterback out of Folsom, California, is the No. 5 overall QB in the class, according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings. He’s the 19 overall player in the 2026 class, according to the rankings. Lyons had scholarship offers from nearly every big-time program in the country, including Oregon and Alabama, among others.

However, Lyons will not be playing for a Big Ten or SEC program. Instead, he’s decided to stay out West, committing to BYU.

Lyons announced his commitment on Tuesday, June 24.

Lyons is the first five-star quarterback to commit to BYU in roughly 20 years.

The five-star quarterback recruit announced his commitment live on The Pat McAfee Show.

Ryder Lyons Commits to BYU pic.twitter.com/KadGpCnV9P

— Ben Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) June 24, 2025

Lyons is viewed as an “exceptional” talent who could be playing on Sundays for a long time.

“Lyons is an exceptional talent and has been one of the top quarterbacks in the region since his sophomore year. Has rare combination of arm talent and movement ability and can shred a defense with his arm and his legs. A pure thrower with a live arm and understands how to change speeds and throw with anticipation. Accurate to all three levels of the field and throws the deep ball with touch and can rip fastballs in to tight windows. Equally dangerous when a play breaks down and has to improvise off-script,” 247Sports wrote.

“Elite in his ability to make multiple defenders miss and is creative in how he can buy time and make a throw down the field or take off and run for plus yards. He’s a tough kid who doesn’t shy away from contact and will take a shot but hang in the pocket to deliver the football. A highly competitive player with a strong off the field work ethic and draws raves from his coaches and teammates for his leadership skill. Has one of the highest ceilings among the quarterback group in his class and assuming he continues to develop, should be playing on Sunday’s for a very long time.”

Congrats to BYU on the big-time commitment.