USC tight end Walker Lyons set to enter NCAA transfer portal
USC Trojans tight end Walker Lyons will enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens on January 2.
Lyons turned in a productive sophomore season, finishing the year with 20 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He served as the No. 2 tight end behind Lake McRee, but was on the field consistently. He logged five starts and took 382 snaps, which ranked No. 11 on the USC team.
He likely would have slid into the No. 1 spot next season with McRee out of eligibility.
USC will now have to reshuffle its tight end room completely for the 2026 season as the Trojans lose two guys who took virtually all tight end snaps during the 2025 season. True freshman Nela Tupou will be a key player in the upcoming Valero Alamo Bowl against the TCU Horned Frogs. Next year, attention will turn heavily to incoming freshman Mark Bowman and juco signee Josiah Jefferson. Both are expected to be immediate impact players in the tight end room.
























