NASSAU COUNTY, New York — BYU tight end Walker Lyons was today named a candidate for the 2026 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List, presented annually to the best tight end in college football.
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior from Folsom, California, was one of 43 tight ends nationally named to the watch list and one of five from the Big 12 Conference.
Prior to joining the Cougars for the 2026 football season, Lyons appeared in 23 games at USC over two seasons. He played in 12 games in 2025, catching 20 balls for 223 yards and two touchdowns for the Trojans. Lyons also appeared in 11 games with three starts as a true freshman in 2024, where he recorded 6 catches for 36 yards.
Lyons was a four-star recruit out of Folsom High School where he was touted as the No. 2 tight end in the nation by ESPN, No. 4 by Rivals and No. 9 by 247Sports. He was selected to participate in the 2023 Under Armour All-American game where he was honored as the All-American Bowl's Man of the Year for his high standard of excellence in community service and athletic distinction.
Following his high school career, Lyons served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Norway from 2022-24 before enrolling at UCS.
The John Mackey Award watch list represents programs from every level of major college football, highlighting players who have demonstrated talent, leadership and potential heading into the 2026 season.
The national tight end award honors the legacy of Pro Football Hall of Famer John Mackey, whose excellence, leadership, character and impact on the game continue to inspire generations of student-athletes. Established in 2000 by the Nassau County Sports Commission, the award is college football’s premier individual honors for the tight end position.
BYU kicks off the 2026 football season versus Utah Tech on Saturday, Sept. 5 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT.