Is Kalani Sitake's BYU football team about to add a former four-star tight end? With Carsen Ryan's senior year now in its twilight, quarterback Bear Bachmeier may need a new tight end to release to. Enter Walker Lyons, a former recruiting target for BYU and a prospect who took an official visit with BYU before opting to go with Lincoln Riley at Southern Cal. Per CBS, Lyons is planning to enter the transfer portal.
NEW: USC TE Walker Lyons is planning on entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, CBS reports
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) December 17, 2025
https://t.co/PKCou3TmhM pic.twitter.com/GNZytbOy2c
It also doesn't hurt that Lyons is the brother of 5-star BYU quarterback signee, Ryder Lyons.
Walker, a current sophomore transferring to BYU with at least two remaining years of eligibility, could line up to share snaps with his brother under center after the latter returns from his one-year mission and returns for Walker's senior season. With Carsen Ryan's graduation imminent, Lyons could slot straight into the TE1 spot on day one.
Lyons is a 6-foot-4, 245 lb tight end out of Folsom, California, who gathered 20 receptions for 223 yards (over 11 yards per catch on average) and two scores during the 2025 season.
Out of high school, Lyons was the second-highest-rated tight end prospect in the country by ESPN, fourth per Rivals, ninth per 247Sports, and thirteenth by On3. High school rankings sure are volatile, aren't they? All the same, Lyons will be heavily pursued in the transfer portal by many power conference programs -- BYU is not a shoo-in purely based on their religious connection, but that detail certainly won't hurt.
Lyons graduated in the class of 2022 and served a two-year mission in Norway prior to beginning his collegiate career with the Trojans.