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USC Dealt Unfortunate News on 5-Star QB

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Kevin Matthew Borba | Last updated Mar 4, 2025 10:26 PM ET

The USC Trojans have been scorching hot on the recruiting trail lately, with their 2026 class holding onto the No. 1 ranking in the country.

The most notable recent addition was four-star quarterback Jonas Williams, whom Lincoln Riley and company actually flipped from a Big Ten rival, the Oregon Ducks. While Williams is the lone signal-caller in the class, USC has also been heavily viewed as the favorite for another top-ranked quarterback, five-star Ryder Lyons.

The younger brother of current tight end Walker Lyons ranks as the No. 14 player in the country according to 247Sports' Composite Rankings, and even holds two crystal balls in favor of USC. However, in a recent interview with Rivals, the younger Lyons revealed that the Trojans may no longer be in the driver's seat.

"Maybe not as much anymore," Lyons said of USC being the leaders. "But, I mean my brother goes there, which is obviously a big thing. But that can be fair, but I think I'm a little more open now."

When asked what has changed for him and USC, Lyons cited the opportunity to see other schools.

"A bunch of stuff," Lyons said. "Just kind of...I went out in the summer, saw a bunch of places. I'll see a bunch of places this spring."

He did express he plans to commit in July after taking official visits, and while some may think he's deterred from USC because of the addition of Williams, he revealed that isn't the case. Not only did he say he won't shy away from competition, but he will also essentially be a 2027 recruit, as he is going on a one-year LDS mission.

So, while the Trojans aren't out of it, they will have to fend off the likes of Oregon, Michigan and BYU.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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