2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Makai Lemon, USC

Name: Makai Lemon

Position: Wide Receiver

School: University of Southern California

Height/Weight: 5’11”, 195 lbs

Class: Junior (2025 season)

Hometown: Los Alamitos, CA

High School: Los Alamitos High School

Recruiting Rank: 4-star recruit, top-50 overall, #9 WR nationally in 2023 class (247Sports Composite)

Draft Projections:

•  Pro Football Network → 1st round, Top 15–20 overall, WR2 (December 2025)

•  PFF → 1st round, Top 15, WR2 (high cumulative grade among WRs since 2024)

•  NFL Draft Buzz → 1st round, #2 WR, potential highest-drafted USC WR since JuJu Smith-Schuster (2017)

•  NFL.com → Mid 1st round projection

•  ESPN (Mel Kiper) → Top-3 WR in 2026 class

•  Consensus → Strong WR2, likely Day 1 selection in top 20, with top-15 upside

Career Background

A consensus four-star recruit and top-10 wide receiver nationally, Makai Lemon starred at Los Alamitos High School, earning MaxPreps All-America First Team and All-CIF honors as a senior with 69 receptions for 1,044 yards and 12 TDs. He enrolled early at USC in spring 2023, seeing limited action as a true freshman before a breakout sophomore year in 2024 with 52 receptions for 764 yards and 3 TDs, contributing to USC’s bowl appearance. In 2025, as a feature receiver, Lemon exploded with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 TDs, helping USC to an 8-4 record. He declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on December 17, 2025, thanking his family, coaches, and Trojan Nation for their support.

Career Stats

•  2023 (Freshman) → 6 rec/ 10 tar (60.0%), 88 yards (14.7 avg/rec), 0 TD

•  2024 (Sophomore) → 52 rec/ 83 tar (62.7%), 764 yards (14.7 avg/rec), 3 TDs

•  2025 (Junior) → 79 rec/ 108 tar (73.1%), 1,156 yards (14.6 avg/rec), 11 TDs

•  Career Totals (3 Seasons) → 137 rec/ 201 tar (68.2%), 2,008 yards (14.7 avg/rec), 14 TDs

Advanced Stats (2025, PFF):

PFF OFF Grade → 90.8 (4th among 404 FBS WRs)

PFF RECV Grade → 91.4

•  Snaps Wide 27.9%/SLOT 70.6%

•  Yards After Catch → 502 (6.4 per reception/ 43% of total yardage)

• Missed Tackles Forced → 21 (0.27/rec)

• 10/15 contested catch (66.7%)

• Drops → 2 (2.5%)

• QB RTG → 130.0 (5th among qualified WRs)

Awards and Accolades

High School:

•  MaxPreps All-America First Team (2022)

•  Four-star recruit

College:

•  All-American (2025)

•  First-Team All-Big Ten (2025)

•  All-Big Ten Offensive Honorable Mention (2024)

•  All-Big Ten Return Specialist Third Team (2024)

•  Biletnikoff Award (2025)

•  Big Ten leaderboard ranks: 2nd in receptions (79), 2nd in receiving yards (1,156), 4th in receiving TDs (11)

Character and Leadership

Lemon earns praise for his maturity and work ethic, with USC coach Lincoln Riley highlighting his recovery from a scary injury moment against Michigan, noting he was “doing very well” and showing resilience. In interviews, Lemon discussed growing into a leader at Big Ten Media Day, drawing inspiration from USC legend Marqise Lee in honest conversations about his journey. Fans and media commend his mental focus and study habits, with no off-field issues or reprimands found; a first-quarter suspension in one game was for unspecified team rules violation, but scouts describe him as humble and team-oriented. Academically, he’s a kinesiology major with a 3.42 GPA, slated to graduate soon. No negative media or student criticism surfaced beyond on-field plays.

Injuries

Lemon saw limited action in 2023 as a freshman but no major injuries reported. He played all 12 games in 2024 and 2025, showing durability. Full recovery expected pre-Combine if any minor issues.

Play Style

Lemon excels as a versatile slot receiver with elite route-running nuance, sinking hips to create separation and tracking the ball like a pro. He also has experience playing outside, but he does his best work with a two way go. His frame and contested-catch prowess make him a red-zone mismatch; reliable hands and attention to detail shine in intermediate/deep routes. He thrives in pro-style offenses stressing technique over raw speed; comps include Chris Olave (route savvy/deep threat). YAC ability adds versatility and is a major strength where he can break for a score anywhere on the field.

Strengths

1.  Route-Running Precision — Advanced technician; creates separation with stems, hips, and detail

2.  Contested Catch Ability — 66.7% rate; strong hands, body control, and radius in traffic.

3.  Ball Tracking/Hands — Soft, reliable mitts; low drop rate in 2025, elite adjustments.

4.  Football IQ/Leadership — High awareness; emerging vocal leader with academic discipline.

5.  Big-Play Reliability — 14.7 YPR career, 3.13 YPRR; consistent chain-mover with TD upside.

Weaknesses

1.  Run blocking/Strength — Willing, but needs to improve technique, understand leverage, and get stronger.

2.  Release Package Diversity — doesn’t always get off press easily, and will need to work hand fighting at line of scrimmage with more diverse release package.

3.   Limited Catch Radius  — Will fight for contested catches, but doesn’t have the arm length to pluck passes further from frame or box defenders out

4. Deep Route Running  — does his best work in the short to intermediate but doesn’t always create separation in the deep part of the field.

5.  Slot Versatility — Primarily slot (70.6% slot rate); limited outside experience.

Final Evaluation

Makai Lemon emerges as a strong WR2 and a blue-chip prospect in the 2026 class, combining polished route-running, reliable hands, and production into a potential WR1 starter. Cross-referencing PFN, PFF, and NFL Draft Buzz highlights his separation skills, ball security, and contested dominance as separators, with speed as the primary developmental area. In an NFL valuing nuanced receivers (Olave, Amon-Ra St. Brown), Lemon boasts Pro Bowl upside and merits top-20 consideration—potentially the highest-drafted Trojan WR since JuJu Smith-Schuster. He projects as an instant contributor capable of elevating passing attacks and delivering long-term WR1 impact.

Sources

•  Pro Football Network (2025 scouting reports, draft projections)

•  PFF (2025 grades, mock drafts, player analysis)

•  NFL Draft Buzz (full profile/scouting report)

•  ESPN (stats, awards, rankings)

•  NFL.com (declaration/projection coverage)

•  Sports-Reference (career stats compilation)

•  USC Athletics/Wikipedia (bio, accolades)