BYU football secures the commitment of 5-star QB Ryder Lyons

Ryder Lyons, the highest-rated quarterback and recruit in the history of BYU football (not to mention the Beehive State as a whole), announced his commitment with the Cougars live on ESPN Tuesday morning.

It seems high-profile gets are making a habit of declaring their affinity for the Provo-based university on national television in the morning, doesn't it? After making an appearance on the Pat McAfee show for his delcaration, I couldn't help but recall AJ Dybantsa's commitment that boggled the mind of one Stephen A Smith before the nation had even scraped the crust from their eyes.

Now, Ryder Lyons has tied the knot and will join the Cougs following his 2-year missionary service.

"For the next three to four years, I'll be going to Brigham Young University," Lyons announced through a grin. "They believed in me early, and it's just crazy how it all comes full circle, you know?"

Coach Sitake and his staff sent an offer to Lyons as early as his eighth grade year, when the arm talent and potential of the eventual 5-star was apparent from the jump. That faith in his development did not pass by the newest commit to BYU football unnoticed, as he felt it necessary to mention during his spot with McAfee.

This commitment arrives at Provo over offers at USC, Oregon, and a mile-long list of the biggest names in the nation. The recent momentum behind the BYU athletic program cannot be understated, as Lyons' addition to the program doesn't even feel that unbelievable anymore.

Simply put: any opportunity available to a player who wants to play in a power conference, with a competitive squad, and on the national stage can find everything they want at Brigham Young University. Not hypothetically -- this is a program capable of punching up with the very best in the game.

"The era of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints going to USC, or UCLA, or Oregon, over BYU... or even Utah... that era is done!" reacted Drake Toll during his most recent Locked On Big 12 spot. "Now they're landing elite-level talent both within the LDS community, outside the LDS community, and not just at an elite level; at the highest level. Arguably the best quarterback in the class of 2026."

Lyon's commitment to BYU football isn't a vast change in the direction of the recruiting winds, nor is it a change in the narrative surrounding the program. Rather, his decision to ride with the Cougars following his mission is one that adds an extra helping of power to Kalani Sitake's heap and his program that only seems to grow in strength by the year.

With enough resources to quite literally compete with the likes of Oregon, USC, and every other suitor listed on his recruiting page, BYU football is becoming a special institution. On the national stage, they're beginning to stand out.

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