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The Cougars are chasing Lyons.
With the 2022 recruiting class within the rearview mirror, apart from spring or summer time switch portal additions, BYU coach Kalani Sitake is concentrated on the 2023 and 2024 courses and in case you needed to put a reputation on the highest of that checklist it could be Folsom (California) Excessive tight finish Walker Lyons.
Lyons is a large 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior who had each Sitake and Alabama’s Nick Saban in his dwelling greater than per week in the past. He’s additionally taken journeys to Stanford, Utah and Oregon and obtained visits from recruiters at USC, Ohio State, Michigan, and nearly each main soccer powerhouse within the nation, together with nationwide champion Georgia.
It will not be an understatement to say Lyons and defensive lineman Spencer Fano are the highest highschool athletes who're members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In different phrases, the strain is on, Sitake.
Lyons is working his approach to be the No. 1 tight finish prospect within the nation. He has been in comparison with Arizona Cardinals tight finish Zach Ertz. “He's massive and he's very sensible,” says neighbor Jason Straw, a former Cougars cornerback who has recognized Lyons all his life.
high eleven. blessed. pic.twitter.com/VhJmWnfTeI
— Walker Lyons (@walkerly0ns) November 11, 2021
For those who take a peek behind the scenes, younger Lyons has so many ties to BYU that it could be inconceivable for him to not perceive this system, college and group.
Walker’s DNA is crammed with Cougar connections.
Will that carry the day when he pronounces his dedication, probably within the subsequent few weeks?
Perhaps. Cougars tight finish coach Steve Clark and Sitake have loads of work to do.
Proper now, he's the “hunted.” He's being courted by the nation’s blue bloods and so they’re coming arduous.
Within the meantime, maintain on to your family tree sheet. Right here’s a experience on Walker Lyons’ household line and it's as blue as one can think about.
His sister Kapri is at the moment enrolled at BYU. His youthful brother Ryder has already obtained a BYU provide. His older sister Kassidy graduated from BYU final 12 months and married former BYU tight finish David Weekes.
His father performed for LaVell Edwards.
Walker’s father, Tim Lyons, transferred to BYU after taking part in basketball at Diablo Valley Junior School in California. He walked on and tried out for the Cougars basketball group within the Roger Reid period, however was reduce. He then walked on to play defensive again on the 1996 Cotton Bowl group, getting slightly taking part in time on what many contemplate one of the best BYU protection in historical past. Straw, one in all his finest mates, was additionally a nook who transferred to BYU from Ricks School.
In line with Straw, Tim Lyons can nonetheless dunk the basketball at 49. “He is a superb athlete and really centered on element along with his youngsters. He and I each went to dental college and have practices close by in El Dorado.
“Tim constructed a basketball courtroom in his dwelling and a exercise room subsequent to it. He stays very lively and is in nice form.”
Each lately purchased BYU season tickets.
Tim Lyons is shut mates with former BYU tight finish Byron Rex, whose son Isaac has began at BYU the previous two seasons and led the nation in TDs for tight ends as a freshman. Walker Lyons has stayed within the dwelling of the Rex household when he’s undergone soccer coaching in that space of California.
Tim Lyons and Straw each met their wives at BYU. Straw has since divorced and remarried, however he lived with the Lyons in between marriages of their dwelling within the El Dorado Hills group close to Sacramento, a really close-knit gathering of households who're members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is the place Scott and Nichole Collie raised three BYU receiver brothers Zac, Austin and Dylan. And, sure, all of them know Tim and Kamee Lyons and their son Walker.
Kamee Lyons is the daughter of essentially the most storied Latter-day Saint film producer, author and director of all-time, Academy Award winner, and BYU graduate Kieth Merrill. Walker Lyons’ well-known film grandpa invited BYU and NFL Corridor of Famer and Tremendous Bowl MVP quarterback Steve Younger to stay in his well-known “Barn” on his unfold in northern California throughout his NFL taking part in days. Kamee and the remainder of her household used to load up within the household van and go to 49ers video games and met with Younger afterward for dinners.
Grandpa Merrill as soon as served as president of the BYU Alumni Affiliation.
Kamee Lyons’ older sister Kaele Merrill Porter, Walker’s aunt, is married to former BYU scholar Greg Porter, a neighbor in El Dorado Hills. Porter, a former vp at Apple, Inc., based a multimillion-dollar software program firm known as PowerSchool, which he offered to Apple for a small fortune. Porter lately spoke to a BYU school commencement graduation.
One other Merrill daughter, Kahna, is married to former BYU basketball participant and Provo native (Timpview Excessive star) Alan Andrus, who additionally performed at Utah Technical School and College of Hawaii earlier than taking part in professionally in Japan.
The Andrus household lives in El Dorado Hills close to Walker, the place he grew up with Andrus’ cousins that embody Roman, a former BYU soccer participant and his brother Truman, a most popular walk-on who sat out final season with an harm after incomes particular groups participant of the week honors the earlier 12 months. Truman Andrus can also be a detailed buddy of Josh Wilson, the youthful brother of New York Jets quarterback, Zach Wilson. An Andrus sister, Walker’s cousin Vivian, is a present BYU cheerleader. One other cousin, Natalia Andrus, is a volleyball participant at Utah Valley.
Web rumors speculated that Walker Lyons is said to former BYU quarterback Marc Lyons, who labored for many years as a KSL shade commentator with the late Paul James and Greg Wrubell. Not true.
“Tim is my perfect buddy and he lives close by,” stated Straw. “We each are within the discipline of dentistry. He’s an orthodontist who attended dental college in Maryland. I’m an oral surgeon who graduated from dental college in Richmond, Virginia. We had been finest mates at BYU. Tim and I had been each walk-ons at BYU and had been two of the one walk-ons who noticed taking part in time in that Cotton Bowl.
“I’ve recognized Walker since he was just a bit child. We weren’t so certain, you already know, when it comes to his athleticism rising up, however he’s simply became this beast of a participant. He’s such a giant child. He’s obtained a lot potential,” stated Straw.
“One factor I can let you know about Walker, which may be very distinctive, is that he’s what we might name type of like a mild big so to talk. I imply he’s an observer. He sees type of what’s happening round him and understands performs, house and defenses.
“He’s not one to make lots of drama out of issues. He’s simply strong and tremendous sensible. He will get good grades. His mother and father have clearly been influential in his life and I’m certain they’ll have enter on the place he ought to go. However Walker may be very quiet about the place he’s leaning, preserving it shut.”
That brings hope for different recruiters like Utah, who reportedly made an impression on Walker due to the Utes’ use of the tight ends of their run to a Pac-12 title.
However additionally it is in BYU’s favor that BYU has a listing of tight finish All-People, together with the late Gordon Hudson, NFL veterans Chad Lewis, Itula Mili, Dennis Pitta and Andrew George, amongst others in an extended line of big-time playmakers at that place.
Walker Lyons has been all around the nation visiting and researching faculties, together with Steve Sarkisian at Texas, based on Straw.
“It’s been enjoyable watching him exit and type of observe, however the one factor that you simply received’t get from Walker is he received’t let you know the place he’s at.”
Walker was in LaVell Edwards Stadium final September on an unofficial go to to BYU to see the Cougars finish a nine-year dropping streak to the Utes. He was within the locker room for the post-game celebration the place a packed crowd outdoors continued to have fun an enormous week that included an invite to affix the Huge 12.
How massive is Lyons selection between the greater than 30 faculties which have supplied him?
It’s a reasonably well-worn path.
Keep tuned. Phrase is Walker Lyons will graduate early, in December. He's anticipated to go on a church mission proper after highschool commencement.
Will his household connections to his BYU heritage be an element?
Keep tuned.