USC trending for elite 2026 quarterback Ryder Lyons

No head coach has done the job recruiting quarterbacks that USC and Lincoln Riley have in recent years, dating back to his time at Oklahoma.

The Trojans look to have hit another home run with current quarterback Miller Moss, and they have another coveted passer in the pipeline with 2025 five-star Julian Lewis committed. While he has looked around at other programs like Auburn, Colorado and Indiana, the momentum in recent weeks has been that Lewis will stick with his commitment, according to On3’s Steve Wiltfong.

And they appear to be closing in on yet another elite quarterback prospect. Folsom (Calif.) 2026 QB Ryder Lyons has been the program’s top target in recent months, and he was in Las Vegas on Sunday night as they knocked off No. 13 LSU behind an impressive performance from Moss.

On Monday morning, Wiltfong logged an expert prediction in favor of the Trojans to land Lyons, joining a pick in early August from On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons. And a decision could be coming soon, according to both insiders.

“It was electric,” Lyons told Wiltfong. “The atmosphere was loud and crazy. A lot of LSU fans, a lot of USC fans. It was just electric, loud fun.”

… I think it makes everything a little more certain. Lincoln Riley is a gifted coach. It showed how well the quarterback play is. Miller Moss played his butt off. It just helps.”

Trojans have family connection to Lyons as well

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Lyons threw for nearly 3,600 yards and 38 touchdowns as a sophomore at Folsom with nearly another 1,000 yards rushing and 23 more scores.

If his name sounds familiar, it should. He is the younger brother of Trojans 2023 tight end signee Walker Lyons, who joined the program this year after a mission trip in Norway with the Church of Latter Day Saints.

The younger Lyons is the No. 12 overall prospect and No. 3 QB in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 2 junior in California.

He is also the only current top-10 junior quarterback who hasn’t already committed to a program. And while a decision could come at any time, he told On3 in July that he isn’t going to make a decision based on the timing of others.

“I am not focused on others,” Lyons said in July. “I see everyone is committing, but I am not going to be pressured, so I will commit when I feel it is right for me. Whether I commit in a month or in six months, I will still have a year to build a class. When I commit, I want to build the best class in the country, so that will be my focus when I find the right school.”