Let's start by stating the obvious. Recruiting rankings are often asinine, inaccurate, and a poor indication of a prospect's actual value. With that said, the shot Ryder Lyons just received from Rivals and On3 in their reshuffling of the quarterback ladder was not only unbelievable but inexcusable.
After being an uncontested 5-star prospect for the entire year, offseason Lyons has tumbled down the standings -- according to the powers that be -- during a time where no official football is being played.
Top QBs in the updated Rivals300 rankings🎯
— Rivals (@Rivals) July 14, 2025
Full List: https://t.co/qLEKAJbhRf pic.twitter.com/jJBfU221DL
Losing his fifth star and dropping out of the top five is shocking enough as it is, but who could have foreseen Bryson Beaver, Oregon's consolation pickup and recent 3-star player, pick up another star and leapfrog his BYU-bound counterpart after his commitment to the Ducks. Beaver leaps hundreds of positions, Lyons stumbles just below. Fascinating.
I'm no conspiracy theorist, but that doesn't sit right with me. Fortunately, Ryder's position on the Rivals website remains steady, along with his 13th overall position with 247. Frankly, this top ten social media post makes less and less sense the more you look into it.
During a period without meaningful competition, one can only assume that boredom plays a major role in these experts' strong desire to shake the tree when everyone else was happy to rest a moment.
Still, the most important aspect of a player's portfolio is what they can accomplish on the field of play. Whether Ryder remains a five star or loses all of his stars entirely, BYU football knows what they have in one of the most talented quarterbacks in the nation.