Ryder Lyons’ Recruitment Journey

Ryder Lyons, a five-star quarterback with immense potential, finds himself at the center of a gripping recruitment saga that has captivated college football fans and analysts alike. His journey has transcended mere visits; it has evolved into a deep exploration of values, aspirations, and the future of his athletic career.

A Thorough Exploration of Options

In recent months, Lyons has meticulously evaluated six elite programs: Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, USC, Oregon, and BYU. Each visit was not just a cursory glance at facilities or coaching staff; Lyons engaged deeply with the culture, the coaching philosophies, and the overall fit for his ambitions. This thoroughness reflects not only his commitment to finding the right program but also his understanding of the pivotal role that college choice plays in shaping his future both on and off the field.

The Final Contenders

As the dust settles, it has become clear that the competition has narrowed to two frontrunners: Oregon and Ohio State. Both programs boast rich histories and promising futures, making the decision even more consequential. For Lyons, this choice is not merely about football; it intertwines with his personal values, including his faith and the burgeoning influence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities.

Faith and NIL: Guiding Principles

Lyons’ faith plays a significant role in his decision-making process. It shapes not only his character but also his vision for how he wants to impact the world around him. This spiritual aspect adds a profound layer to his recruitment, as he seeks a program that aligns with his beliefs and allows him to thrive both as an athlete and as an individual.

Simultaneously, the NIL landscape has transformed the recruiting environment, presenting athletes like Lyons with unprecedented opportunities to monetize their talents. The allure of NIL deals can significantly influence a player’s decision, making it essential for Lyons to consider how each program supports and facilitates these opportunities.

Looking Ahead

As Lyons approaches this pivotal decision, the stakes are high. The choice between Oregon and Ohio State will not only define his college football career but could also set the stage for his future in professional sports. With every visit, conversation, and reflection, he inches closer to a decision that will resonate well beyond the gridiron.

In an era where recruitment is as much about personal growth as it is about athletic prowess, Ryder Lyons stands at a crossroads. His journey illustrates the complexities of modern college football recruitment, where faith, values, and financial considerations converge, ultimately shaping the next generation of athletes. As his story unfolds, one can only anticipate the impact of his choice on his career and the programs vying for his commitment.

Although judge Claudia Wilken signed off on the House v. NCAA settlement earlier this month, there is still a lot of work to be done to apply guardrails on a system that has felt lawless for the past few years.

Another step in that process started on Friday when the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a complaint in state court against the University of Miami, claiming the Hurricanes poached a defensive back Xavier Lucas, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. The whole thing sounds like a mess, but perhaps more important than the specifics of this particular case is what precedent it will set.

Talks of tampering in this portal/NIL era have been widespread. Even if Miami did what Wisconsin is accusing it of, it’s incredibly hard to imagine the Hurricanes are the only ones doing it. The issue resides in the fact that despite tampering being bad, the NCAA has been unable to police a crosswalk in recent years much less its member institutions because of different things happening in the courts.

I think everyone would rather the threat of tampering go away, but because of how widespread the issue is viewed, it seemed like it would be a tough thing to tackle. For some schools, accusing another school of tampering would feel like throwing stones in a glass house.

OSU coach Mike Gundy has on a few occasions likened the NCAA’s fleeting power to speeding tickets.

“There’s a speed limit sign that says 55, but nobody drives 55 and there’s nobody getting a ticket,” said Gundy back in 2022. “So, you really don’t have to drive 55. That’s actually what’s in place right now, in my opinion. What direction it’s going to go from now moving forward, who’s going to police it, what the mandates will be, I’m not sure. We’re just living day to day with this.”

He said that back in 2022, and it still feels relevant more than three years later. But maybe this lawsuit is a first step in getting the tampering issue solved. This is just one of many things the new world of college athletics will have to figure out in the fallout of the settlement being signed off on. It certainly feels like this is going to continue to take a while.

Here’s what the Big Ten had to say about Wisconsin’s lawsuit:

“The Big Ten Conference is aware of the litigation recently filed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison against the University of Miami and is supportive of UW-Madison’s position. As alleged, the University of Miami knowingly ignored contractual obligations and disregarded the principle of competitive equity that is fundamental to collegiate athletics.

“The Big Ten Conference believes that the University of Miami’s actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of UW-Madison’s efforts to preserve.”

AJ Dybantsa may originally be from Brockton, Massachusetts, but he now calls Utah home, as he went to Utah Prep in his senior year of high school, and will be going to BYU in Provo for college. He has an NIL partnership deal with Nike, and is now giving back to his new community by giving away Nikes in Utah.

The No. 1-ranked prospect from the Class of 2025 per ESPN and On3 arrived at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of America in Provo to give away the free Nikes to kids in need. AJ Dybantsa, whose NIL is valued at $4.1 million per On3, documented the trip in his YouTube channel, as he gave away not just shoes, but also bags, balls, and other Nike merchandise. Here is the video:

The kids made a special sign for the incoming BYU freshman and were chanting his name as he addressed them and their families.

“Thank you y’all, I’m AJ Dybantsa, a freshman at BYU,” the No. 1-ranked recruit introduced himself. “I’m here with Richie Saunders who’s a senior, Dawson Baker and Brody. We have a special delivery.”

This was when Dybantsa revealed that he was a member of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of America when he was younger too.

“I used to be a Club kid, when I was five, six, I used to do the summer program, My dad used to drop me off and I used to just, you know, play basketball, hang with kids and just, you know, have a good time,” he said.

Dybantsa also revealed that he previously donated to the Boy’s and Girls’ Club in Brockton, as well as the one in Boston, and now, as this is his newest community, he has donated to the one in Provo as well.

Dybantsa will be entering his freshman year in BYU, though he is not expected to stay for long, as he has been honest about wanting to get to the NBA as soon as possible.

AJ Dybantsa to Return to the International Stage for the FIBA U19 World Cup

Before he begins his freshman year at Provo, however, the top-ranked BYU recruit will be suiting up for the red, white and blue as he heads to Switzerland as part of USA Basketball’s U19 national team. He will participate in the FIBA U19 World Cup, alongside former teammates JJ Mandaquit and Tyran Stokes.

Dybantsa has plenty of national team experience, giving the US gold medals in the FIBA Americas U16 tournament and the FIBA U17 World Cup. He also represented Team USA during last April’s Nike Hoop Summit, but represented Jamaica and Congo for Team World last year. His mother is an immigrant from Jamaica, while his father is an immigrant from Congo.

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Camp Randall Stadium is seen during a football game between Wisconsin and Miami of Ohio on Sept. 12, 2015, in Madison, Wis.

Associated Press file photo

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers’ football players to abandon a lucrative name, image and likeness contract to play for the Florida team this upcoming season.

Allegations of tampering rarely get to this level and the 23-page lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Wisconsin and obtained by The Associated Press, is unusual. Depending on its resolution, it could have a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics.

The player in question in the filing is referred to only as “Student-Athlete A.” But the case summary describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced his plans to enter the transfer portal.

Shortly afterward, Darren Heitner, who has been representing Lucas, indicated that Wisconsin was refusing to put Lucas’ name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk with other schools. In January, Heitner announced that Lucas would be playing for Miami this fall.

The situation is fallout from the rapid changes engulfing college athletics, specifically a combination of two things: Athletes went to court and won the ability to transfer with much more freedom and the 2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. That has changed the recruiting landscape and forced the issue of contracts and signed commitments to the fore.

When Miami Hurricanes fans hear about NIL or the House settlement, they most likely think about its impact on the football team. But there are other sports at UM that need plenty of money, including basketball and baseball plus Olympic sports.

With the baseball season recently concluded with an oh-so-close run at Omaha, CaneSport caught up with J.D. Arteaga to discuss where things stand in this oh-so-important area.

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