USC WR Makai Lemon: 2026 NFL Draft profile, latest mock predictions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Makai Lemon made a name for himself in the Big Ten. The USC Trojans wide receiver was a yards after catch monster last season, leading to him taking home the Biletnikoff Award. After three solid years at Southern Cal, Lemon is ready to prove himself in the league.

The first-team Associated Press All-American and All-Big Ten Conference player started 12 games last season. Lemon was named the Polynesian College Football Co-Player of the Year, ranking eighth in the FBS with 1,156 receiving yards (79 receptions, 14.6 yards per catch), tied for ninth with 11 receiving TDs.

Here’s a look at the latest NFL Draft projections and profile for Lemon.

"High-skill, high-volume slot receiver with average size but extraordinary ball skills. Lemon has room for refinement, but not much. He’s intelligent, confident and polished with the ability to make plays on all three levels. Tempo-driven route-runner who misdirects man coverage and separates out of turns but is fairly average after the catch. Quicker than fast, featuring early acceleration to open seam throws but flashes late burst when needed.

"More play strength is needed for NFL press and he needs to avoid rushing through multi-breaking routes. He’s an exceptional ball-tracker with excellent catch timing and few focus drops. He wins more combat catches than he loses. Lemon is a plug-and-play, quarterback-friendly talent with first-round value and Pro Bowl upside."

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