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The Blueprint: 5-star quarterback Ryder Lyons locks in first Michigan visit

On3 imageby: Ethan McDowell03/04/25ethanmmcdowell
Ryder Lyons Alabama Crimson Tide
Photo by Chad Simmons/On3

Michigan landed Five-Star+ quarterback Bryce Underwood late last year. Elite signal-caller Ryder Lyons, another five-star signal-caller, has emerged as the program’s top-ranked target in the 2026 cycle, and he just locked in his first trip to Ann Arbor.

According to his mother, Kamee Lyons, their family will spend April 12 and 13 at Michigan. She said they are “very excited” about the trip.

Ryder is the No. 11 recruit in the 2026 class and the No. 4 quarterback nationally. The Wolverines are prioritizing the 6-foot-2, 205-pound signal-caller from Folsom (Calif.) High.

He’s one of the most heavily recruited prospects in the country, holding offers from USC, Oregon, Ohio State and many others. The Trojans hold the edge in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, but they recently flipped Top 100 quarterback Jonas Williams from Oregon.

Lyons is technically a class of 2026 quarterback, but he will take a mission trip after graduating from high school as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is essentially a 2027 prospect.

“Ryder is amazing,” Lyons’ private quarterback trainer Danny Hernandez said. “You look at him, and he could easily be a future Heisman winner. He checks all the boxes a coach and fanbase could want. He’s the face of the program kind of guy. He had a phenomenal year this year. I expect him to do the same this season. He’ll have some tough choices to make because pretty much everyone I talk to has him No. 1 on their board.”

His brother, Walker Lyons, plays tight end for USC, and he has visited that program more than any other school. This will be the five-star quarterback’s first trip to Ann Arbor. In the past year, he has also taken trips to Texas A&M, Auburn, Alabama and Ole Miss.

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, general manager Sean Magee and tight ends coach Steve Casula all stopped by his school in January. Lindsey also made another trip out to California to watch Lyons throw.

Lyons took home the 2024-2025 Gatorade California Football Player of the Year award after throwing for 3,011 yards as a junior, completing 68.1 percent of his passes for 46 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 585 yards and 14 more scores.

The Wolverines hold three commits in the 2026 so far— On300 cornerback Brody Jennings, three-star wide receiver Jaylen Pile and three-star offensive lineman Bear McWhorter.

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