The BYU Cougars will kick off the 2026 season in seven days against Utah Tech. As we count down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 7: junior tight end Walker Lyons.
Walker Lyons's background
Walker Lyons was a big-time high school recruit coming out of Folsom, California, back in the class of 2023. He was a four-star talent with a gaudy 94 rating at 247 Sports and the No. 158 recruit nationally.
BYU was his second offer on record all the way back in 2020, when Walker was just a young pup. Offers then flooded in from the bluest of the bluebloods in college football. Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, LSU...you name it. In the end he chose to stay in-state and committed to the USC Trojans.
After serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he returned in time for USC's 2024 season. As a true freshman he appeared in 11 games with six receptions for 36 yards.
Last year he emerged as a more consistent part of USC's offense. Over 12 games in 2025 he reeled in 20 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns.
But something else happened last year, too. Walker's younger brother, Ryder, committed to the BYU Cougars as one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the entire country. With Ryder currently serving a mission, Walker opted to hit the transfer portal and beat his younger brother to Provo.
Walker Lyons's 2026 outlook
With the Cougars wide receiver room being in flux, Walker Lyons could have a huge role in this year's offense. Bear Bachmeier was outstanding as a freshman quarterback last year and now has total command of Aaron Roderick's offense. He's going to be able to distribute the ball around the field, taking advantage of mismatches the Cougars can create.
And boy will BYU need Walker Lyons to create some mismatches.
With a host of unproven wide receivers in Provo, the Cougars could feature a host of two tight end sets in 2026 featuring both Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga, another transfer to BYU this year. All reports coming out of Provo are that both tight ends look excellent. Both of them should make many contributions this year.
Looking forward, Walker likely has NFL aspirations and his joining something of a tight end factory in Provo, at least historically. Carsen Ryan was a seventh round pick in this year's draft. Matt Bushman won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. They join other NFL luminaries at tight end like Chad Lewis, Daniel Coats, Dennis Pitta, Itula Mili, Doug Jolley, and Gordon Hudson.
The BYU Cougars need a big, big year from Walker Lyons. He looks poised to deliver it.
Add us as a preferred source on Google