Class of 2026 5-star QB Ryder Lyons visits Auburn: ‘It was amazing’

Five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons, who is ranked the No. 3 quarterback and No. 11 overall recruit in the 2026 class, visited Auburn on Monday.

Lyons, who attends Folsom High School in California, he credited Auburn senior offensive analyst/quarterback assistant Jesse Stone for making the visit happen.

“He’s pretty much the reason I’m out here, just the relationship that we’ve built,” Lyons said. “I’m going to honor that, so that’s why I came out and visited and see how it is.”

Lyons is glad he did.

“It was amazing,” he said. “Definitely made a big impression on me. I definitely will be back. We did a lot, we went and toured the campus, we talked a lot of football, which was the best part to be honest. Just see how I would work in the offense, how it would translate to the NFL, stuff like that.”

Lyons impressed with Auburn

Lyons said there are several things he liked about Auburn.

“Just the general vibe,” he said. “I’m big on relationships and these coaches showed me that I’m definitely high on their list, high on their board which means a lot. You want to go somewhere you’re believed in so that was a thing I liked. I really liked the culture, you could just tell that there’s something different about here, which is awesome.”

In addition to Stone, Lyons spent time with Auburn coach Hugh Freeze and quarterbacks coach Kent Austin.

“I met with (Freeze) for a while,” he said. “That was good, too. He seems like a great, genuine coach, which is what you want. I just wanted to feel the whole vibe of everything and it was good.

“(Meeting with Austin was) amazing. We pretty much spent the whole day with him. It was really good to get to know him more.”

Following the visit, Lyons said the Tigers are high on his list.

“Definitely a top school now,” he said. “For sure.”

Lyons plans to return to Auburn in the fall for a game. Nothing is locked in, but he could return Sept. 7 when Auburn hosts California.

He is currently in the 2026 class, but going on a mission trip for a year is still under consideration.

“Nothing is 100 percent,” he said. “But if I did, I would graduate early and then technically be a Class of 2027 early enrollee. I would play my senior year (in 2025) and then be back in January.”

Photo: Jeffrey Lee, Auburn Live

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