Makai Lemon

NFL Draft Profile: Makai Lemon

Position: Wide Receiver | School: USC | Class: Junior

Height: 5'11" | Weight: 195 lbs | Archetype: Route Runner / Slot

College Career Summary

Makai Lemon entered USC as a high-pedigree recruit out of Los Alamitos, initially displaying his versatility by playing both cornerback and special teams as a freshman in 2023. His breakout began in 2024, but his 2025 junior season was truly historic. Lemon finished the year as a Unanimous All-American and the Fred Biletnikoff Award winner, leading all Power Four wide receivers with 1,156 receiving yards.

Known for his "all effort, no ego" mentality, Lemon thrived in Lincoln Riley’s offense as the ultimate tactical weapon. He displayed elite efficiency, recording a 90.4 PFF grade (highest in the FBS) and dropped only one pass on nearly 100 targets. He officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft following the regular season, opting out of the Alamo Bowl to prepare for the leap to the pros.

2025 Regular Season Stats

• Receptions: 79 | Receiving Yards: 1,156 | TDs: 11

• Rushing: 9 Att, 4 Yds, 2 TD | Passing: 1-for-1, 24 Yds, 1 TD

• Drops: 1 (on 97 targets) | Forced Missed Tackles: 20 (T-6th in FBS)

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rec/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	Missouri St	7 / 90 / 0	A-	Sharp season debut; displayed elite return ability.
2	Georgia Southern	4 / 158 / 2	A+	Explosive. Averaged nearly 40 yards per catch.
3	@ Purdue	5 / 63 / 0	B+	Reliable chain-mover in a grind-it-out road win.
4	Michigan State	8 / 127 / 1	A	Total dominance in the intermediate middle; 1 Rush TD.
5	@ Illinois	11 / 151 / 2	A+	Career-high receptions; elite separation in a loss.
6	Michigan	9 / 93 / 1	A-	Thrived against elite NFL-caliber corners.
7	@ Notre Dame	4 / 76 / 0	B	Tough environment; one of the few bright spots.
8	@ Nebraska	2 / 18 / 0	C-	Quiet Game. Nebraska's secondary prioritized him.
9	Northwestern	11 / 161 / 1	A+	The Apex. Masterclass in zone-beating routes.
10	Iowa	10 / 153 / 1	A	Surpassed 1,000-yard mark against a top defense.
11	@ Oregon	7 / 34 / 2	B+	Red-zone focus; 1 Passing TD thrown to set up score.
12	UCLA	1 / 32 / 1	B-	Low volume, but maximized impact with a 32-yd TD.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Leadership: Lead-by-example captain; played DB as a freshman without complaint to help team depth.

• Mental Toughness: Thrives under pressure; Biletnikoff winner who stayed humble through the hype.

• Competitor: Elite; plays bigger than his 5'11" frame in contested situations.

• Team Player: "All effort, no ego" mantra; extensive special teams and blocking work.

• Star Power: High-impact "gravity" player who dictates defensive coverage.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 82/100

• Height/Weight: 5'11", 195 lbs. (Below 6'0" < and 200lb < targets).

• Stamina: Exceptional; stays on the field for nearly every offensive snap.

• Durability: Played all 12 regular season games in 2024 and 2025.

• Injury History: Medically clean; considered very "injury-resistant" by staff.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 97/100

• Catching: Elite. Natural hands catcher; only 1 drop in the entire 2025 season.

• Route Running: Mastery. Advanced tempo manipulation and hip fluidity.

• Body Control: Exceptional; catches the ball at the highest point with timing.

• Separation: Creates space instantly using elite short-area quickness.

• Release: Sudden; beats press with rapid footwork and lateral twitch.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 90/100

• Speed: 4.45 (Estimated). Plentiful straight-line speed; faster in pads.

• Agility: Elite. Lateral movement is his defining athletic trait.

• Jumping: Surprising vertical; won 10 of 15 contested targets in 2025.

• Acceleration: Sudden; reaches top speed almost instantly out of breaks.

• Break Tackle: High-tier for his size; 20 missed tackles forced in 2025.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Awareness: High; understands defensive leverage better than most due to experience at DB.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Elite route precision; vacuum-like hands (1.03% drop rate); highly versatile (Returner, WR, former DB); exceptional spatial awareness in zone coverage.

• Weaknesses: Undersized by traditional NFL "X" standards; lacks elite 4.3 burner speed; may be viewed primarily as a slot-only target by some teams.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for West Coast or Spread offenses that rely on timing and slot-based leverage (e.g., Dolphins, Rams, Chiefs).

• NFL Comparison: Jahan Dotson / Tyler Lockett.

Scout's Final Word

"Makai Lemon is a professional receiver playing in college. His 2025 tape against Michigan and Iowa shows a player who doesn't just win with athleticism, but with intelligence and technical superiority. While his height will be a talking point, his ability to force missed tackles and catch 50-50 balls like a 6'3" receiver makes him a blue-chip prospect. He is a 'plug-and-play' starter who will likely go in the back half of the first round. Projected: Round 1."