As transfer portal season rolls on, former USC players are continuing to find their new homes in the portal. On Friday, tight end Walker Lyons became the latest player to do so when he committed to BYU.
Lyons joining the Cougars is not exactly a stunning development. His younger brother, Ryder, recently signed with BYU as one of the top quarterback recruits in the class of 2026. The two will now get the opportunity to play together in Provo.
As a sophomore in 2025, Lyons has played a key role as USC’s No. 2 tight end behind Lake McRee. He finished the regular season with 20 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns. With McRee off to the NFL, Lyons was projected to take over as the starter at the position next season. Hence, his decision to enter the transfer portal last month was a notable loss for the Trojans.
With Lyons’s departure, USC will have to look elsewhere for tight end production in 2026. The Trojans recently signed class of 2026 five-star Mark Bowman and top junior college tight end Josiah Jefferson. However, they do not have much Division I experience returning at the position. It will be interesting to see if USC looks to add a veteran tight end in the transfer portal, or if the Trojans trust their young guys to come in and carry the load right away.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Former USC football tight end Walker Lyons commits to BYU
