Walker Lyons is not going to finish his college football career at USC and will enter the transfer portal. His girlfriend Rylee Arnold adds an interesting wrinkle to the mix.
It seems inevitable that he is going to end up at BYU.
Lyons could end up anywhere in the country and we will not know what he decides until it is announced. However, the breakout tight end now has three different ties to the college football program in Provo.
Who is Walker Lyons?
At 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, Lyons ranked as the ninth-best tight end in the recruiting Class of 2023 and a top 150 player overall. He was considered a four-star prospect.
Although his freshman season was underwhelming, Lyons finally made an impact for the Trojans in 2025 with 20 catches for 223 yards and two touchdowns. It was a breakout year.
Lyons finished as the fifth-leading receiver on the team. His role was expected to expand in 2026 with the departure of senior tight end Lake McRee. He was expected to take over as the starting tight end.
Not anymore!
Walker Lyons is planning to enter the transfer portal. USC will replace him with five-star freshman Mark Bowman and Josiah Jefferson, the No. 1-ranked junior college tight end.
Perhaps the incoming players have something to do with Lyons’ decision. They might not. Lyons has not yet released a statement to announce his decision. He could still decide to stay in Los Angeles.
However, there is one school that seems to make the most sense.
Rylee Arnold is yet another tie to BYU.
It seems inevitable that Walker Lyons will end up at BYU. He was recruited by the Cougars out of high school (and took some hilariously seductive photos with a stuffed mascot during his campus visit) and has multiple connections to the program.
First and foremost, the Lyons family is of Mormon faith. Walker served an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Norway before he enrolled at USC.
BYU is owned, sponsored and operated by the LDS Church. The Cougars could use another tight end for next season with Carsen Ryan likely off to the NFL.
Walker’s little brother, Ryder Lyons, is a five-star quarterback prospect in the recruiting Class of 2025. He is already committed to BYU. Maybe big brother wants to join him there.
To go even one step further, Walker Lyons is dating Dancing with the Stars pro Rylee Arnold.
Rylee and her three sisters were all raised in the Mormon faith. They grew up in Provo.
Although Arnold met Lyons in L.A., it would be very easy for the former to visit the latter if he ultimately ended up at BYU. Her parents live just up the road. Her sisters are all in Utah.
It seems inevitable that Walker Lyons is going to play for the Cougars. We’ll see.