The regular season has come to an end, the No. 17 USC Trojans have finished out the year 9-3 prior to the postseason. With the culmination of a regular season rises questions for veterans to declare for the NFL Draft.
For one, when discussing which USC players may declare, wide receiver Makai Lemon is often the first name mentioned. The 5-foot-11 playmaker finished the 2025 season with over 1,000 receiving yards, becoming the first FBS receiver to hit that mark this year.
Makai Lemon, Nation’s Best Receiver?
Going into this season, Trojan fans knew they had an elite wide receiver duo Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, who both thrive in different areas that create an elite air raid offense under coach Lincoln Riley. However, if there’s one thing Lemon has done this season is prove his talent.
This season alone, Lemon recorded 1,156 receiving yards on 79 receptions, 11 touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, numbers that exceeded his 2024 statistics beyond measure. Smith only has 942 receiving yards on 72 receptions and 11 touchdowns.
Lemon has made multiple headlines regarding his future in the league, even seen as up and coming versions of current NFL receivers. Lemon was also named as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, awarded to the nation’s best receiver.
A Los Alamitos, California product, there’s one thing for certain when Lemon talks about his one and only school he’s ever played for, it’s home.
“This is home. You know, it’s in my backyard. I got my family here. Such a great program. I wouldn’t want to be nowhere else,” Lemon told the media in September.
For Riley, Lemon, who also doubles as a punt returner, has simply been the most efficient receiver in the nation.