Indeed, the Wolverines experienced a brief moment of joy. After all, they were fortunate to snag Bryce Underwood, the top recruit. This resulted in an increase in confidence. However, the head coach of Michigan, Sherrone Moore, went above and beyond to find Underwood’s backup. And now, it seems a young prodigy is already in the sights of the Wolverines. But as per the latest report, the 5-star QB target has already received an offer from UNC. Will Michigan be able to sign this five-star quarterback for the class of 2026?

According to a recent Michigan Sports Talk video, “Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has visited the five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons in the 2026 class from the state of California.” An X post with the description, “Thank you to @ChipLindsey11 From @UMichFootball for stopping by the 5 Time state champs Folsom Bulldogs today,” was shared by a Folsom high school recruiter, Scott Robison, to confirm this information.

Although it appears to increase the rivalry for Bryce Underwood, it is now advantageous for Michigan to establish his 2026 dynasty. On Friday, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound signal-caller made the Tar Heels’ offer public. We all know, Lyons has already had a successful January; on Friday, he also revealed an offer from Arizona. Since the January contact period began, Folsom has had visits from a number of coaches, including those from Ole Miss, Michigan, and Washington. Safe to say, Lyons is an uncommitted 5-star QB for Folsom (Calif.).

And, today Lyons is a highly sought-after target around the country. He was awarded the 2024 Gatorade California Football Player of the Year last month after rushing for 556 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior for Folsom. But he is still favored by USC, according to On3.

Does the standout QB for UNC have USC on his list?

In the autumn, Ryder Lyons told On3 that he thought a commitment was “coming sooner than later,” but he is still on the board as the winter draws to a close. “USC is high on my list. There is a lot to like about USC. You have coach Riley. He has coached great quarterbacks that have won the Heisman Trophy and been drafted No. 1 in the NFL Draft. He is a great offensive mind, and the defense is now playing at a different level,” Lyons noted.

USC is interested in Lyons for another reason, though. He is Walker Lyons’ younger brother, a tight end for USC. Needless to say, Moore may already sense that Lyons is slipping away from him. In that instance, he may be inspired to stay focused on his objective by some data.

Riley’s reputation as a quarterback whisperer is now a thing of the past. Following the failure of his Miller Moss experiment, it became increasingly noticeable. Lincoln Riley should be held accountable in this instance. He had the option to be more cautious with the quarterback, after all. Sherrone Moore thus has a shot with Ryder Lyons, in a sense. What are your thoughts?