Walker Lyons

Last updated
Walker Lyons
USC TrojansNo. 85
Position Tight end
ClassSophomore
Major Real Estate Development
Personal information
Born (2004-03-13) March 13, 2004 (age 21)
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career history
College
  • USC (2024–present)
High school Folsom (Folsom, California)

Walker Lyons (born March 13, 2004) is an American football tight end for the USC Trojans.

Contents

Early life

Lyons grew up in Folsom, California and attended Folsom High School. As a junior, he recorded 42 receptions for 646 yards and seven touchdowns, while also contributing with the defense and special teams. He would suffer a season-ending injury in the first game of his senior year. [1] He was then selected to the 2022 Preseason MaxPreps California All-State Team. In January 2023, Lyons was named the All-American Bowl's Man of the Year. [2] He would originally commit to play college football at Stanford [3] before changing his commitment [4] to play for USC. [5]

College career

Lyons opted to postpone playing college football to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Norway, where he would start in early 2023. [6] He would return to play for the USC Trojans in 2024. [7]

During his true freshman season in 2024, he played in 11 games and started three of them, finishing the season with six catches for 36 yards. [8]

Personal life

Lyons is the grandson of director Kieth Merrill and is the older brother of Ryder Lyons. [9]

Lyons began dating Dancing with the Stars pro Rylee Arnold in October 2024. [10] [11]

References

  1. Long, Matt (August 21, 2022). "Lyons thankful, grateful for support from community". Gold Country Media. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  2. Ramos, Gus (January 6, 2023). "Walker Lyons Named All-American Bowl's Man of the Year". NBC Sports . Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  3. Huffman, Brandon (July 23, 2022). "Four-star TE Walker Lyons talks commitment to Stanford". 247Sports. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  4. Huffman, Brandon (November 28, 2022). "Top247 TE Walker Lyons opens up his recruitment, sets new signing timeline". 247Sports. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  5. Borba, Kevin (February 1, 2023). "Former Stanford commit Walker Lyons commits to USC". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  6. Toone, Trent (February 10, 2023). "Walker Lyons leaves USC college football for Church mission". Church News. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  7. @FightOnRusty (June 14, 2024). "4 star TE Walker Lyons has returned home from his LDS Mission. He'll spend a few days with family and be on campus soon ✌🏻 #FightOn✌🏻" (Tweet). Retrieved August 19, 2025 via Twitter.
  8. "Walker Lyons 2024 Gamelog". Sports Reference . Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  9. Toone, Trent (February 10, 2023). "Why top recruit Walker Lyons is stepping away from USC to serve a Latter-day Saint mission" . Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  10. Longmire, Becca (October 28, 2024). "DWTS Pro Rylee Arnold Confirms Romance with USC Football Player: 'Is This a Hard Launch?'". People. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  11. Lau-Adams, Kristie (October 28, 2024). "DWTS Rylee Arnold Dating USC Football Player Walker Lyons". Us Weekly. Retrieved August 19, 2025.