Grounded By Faith: Walker Lyons
Natalie Miller, USC Football Communications Student Assistant
9/6/2025
As the cardinal and gold confetti fell onto the field of Allegiant Stadium after USC defeated Texas A&M in the 2024 Las Vegas Bowl, tight end Walker Lyons walked straight over to Aggie tight end Leo Melin Öhrström to say “good game” in Swedish, his opponent's native tongue.
Lyons learned how to speak Norwegian while on his 18-month mission with the Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tromsø, Norway from 2023-24. Because Norwegian and Swedish are so similar, he was excited to have the chance to speak to Öhrström after the game.
“I went up to him and started speaking in Swedish, and he was shocked,” Lyons recalled. “I told him I lived in Norway, and that I carry so much love for Sweden.”
Of Scandinavian descent himself, Lyons felt right at home while serving in Norway.
“I felt a sense of community, like it was another home of mine,” he said.
Instead of joining the USC football team immediately after graduating high school, Lyons was called by faith to step out of his comfort zone and serve a cause much bigger than himself.
“By stepping away from football, school and things that I wanted, I was able to look outward and focus on helping others,” he said. “I grew so much mentally and emotionally.”
While serving his mission, Lyons was able to share his love for the game of football. He coached and volunteered with two teams in Norway: the Drammen Warriors and the Trondheim Vikings. Lyons, formerly one of the nation’s top high school recruits, was able to mentor Norwegian children and help them become more familiar with the American sport.
Lyons viewed this undeniable opportunity as twofold: impacting the world through his altruistic efforts while sharing his faith and growing as a man by strengthening his sense of purpose.
“It wasn't mandatory, but I saw it as an opportunity to mature,” he said. “When you are living in a whole new culture, you grow up and gain a perspective on life and the people you meet; I learned so much about myself.”
That evolved perspective is what Lyons attributes to his resilient and team-oriented game play. With more than a year of versatile life experience behind him – both humanitarian aid and preaching Christianity – Lyons’ ability to stay grounded has shaped him into the player that Trojan fans now see excelling on the field.
“Even in those hard days or hard workouts, I think about my time of service and find the strength to push through,” commented Lyons.
Lyons was met with open arms when he returned to the United States, and it left him eager to hit the field after his 18-month hiatus.
“It wasn’t easy coming back, but after over a year without playing football, I couldn't get enough of it.”
Lyons said he feels the same excitement for the game now as he did when he first returned last season. For him, that passion is further fueled by the support of his family.
“My family is a very sports-oriented family. My dad played football and so do my brothers,” he added. “I play for my family; I want to make them proud.”
As Lyons runs out of the Coliseum tunnel each Saturday, he surely does make his family proud. Displaying maturity, faith and character, he brings the lessons and growth he cultivated in Norway back to the gridiron.
“Without my mission and my faith, I wouldn't be where I am today” he said.
