Makai Lemon

● Manipulative route runner and uses a variety of stems to create defender blind spots ● Gliding athlete who can maneuver around coverage without gearing down ● Angle cuts out of breaks are sharp and crisp (credits USC coach Chaz Savage for his route development) ● Instinctive zone route runner, feeling space and sitting down (credits his defensive back experience) ● Reliable focus and tracking skills — quickly earned the trust of his quarterbacks ● Comfortably twists his body to adjust to throws or protect catch point from defenders ● Matches physicality of defensive backs to finish catches through contact ● Stubborn after the catch and makes it a chore to get him on the ground (only Big Ten player with more than 500 YAC in 2025) ● Takes blocking responsibilities seriously and will fit up linebackers in the run game ● Primary kick returner in 2024 and played on punt teams ● Extremely competitive and trains like he plays (NFL scout: “He’s one of the most competitive guys in my area … almost to a fault, but I think it comes from a good place.”) ● Finished 2025 regular season No. 1 in the FBS in first-down receptions (50)

● Average size and play strength will be more noticeable against NFL defensive backs ● Physical press can ride him a little longer than you’d like to see ● Quicker than fast — doesn’t have a pull-away gear or secondary burst ● Catches well outside his frame but catch radius matches his modest size ● Best work came out of the slot, where he could attack middle of the field (just 27.8 percent of his catches in 2025 came outside the numbers) ● Missed one game as a sophomore because of an injury (Sept. 2024) ● Benched for first quarter of UCLA game for violation of team rules (Nov. 2025)

A two-year starter at USC, Lemon was primarily an inside receiver (75.6 percent of career snaps aligned in the slot) in head coach Lincoln Riley’s RPO spread scheme. He led the Trojans in receiving each of the past two seasons, including an All-America 2025 campaign that won him the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top wide receiver (first USC player to win the award since Marqise Lee in 2012). Lemon, who has Hawaiian ancestry, was named the 2025 Polynesian Player of the Year. Despite lacking top-tier physical traits, Lemon provided multiple examples each game in which his quarterback made a “my guy is better than your guy” throw for Lemon to go get. More often than not, Lemon made the QB right. With his competitive urgency, he doesn’t let the ball hit the ground (2.8 percent career drop rate) and rarely gets tackled where he makes a catch (he produced hidden yards all over his college tape). Overall, Lemon doesn’t wow with his size or athletic profile, but he is a smooth, manipulative route runner and catches everything thrown his way. Similar in ways to fellow former Trojans receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, he already plays like a pro and projects as an NFL starter (Z or slot).