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USC Star Receiver Makai Lemon Declares for NFL Draft

  • On Wednesday in Los Angeles, Makai Lemon announced he is skipping his final season at Southern California to enter the NFL draft and will forgo the Trojans' Alamo Bowl trip on Dec. 30.
  • After an award‑filled season, Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver and earned AP First Team All‑America honors while leading the Power Four conferences in receiving yards.
  • Over his USC career, Makai Lemon compiled 137 receptions for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns, and the 5-foot-11, 200-pound junior is projected to be a likely first-round pick in April.
  • For USC, Lemon's departure follows Lincoln Riley's announcement that both top receivers will skip the Alamo Bowl vs. TCU on Dec. 30, while Ja'Kobi Lane and others declared earlier this week.
  • Multiple teams could be ideal fits, including the New York Giants pairing Lemon with Jaxson Dart, while Cleveland, Kansas City, and San Francisco suit his versatility as a runner and passer for next year.
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All-American receiver Makai Lemon headed to NFL, skipping his final season at USC

All-American receiver Makai Lemon is skipping his final season at Southern California to enter the NFL draft.

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USC star receiver Makai Lemon declares for NFL draft

USC star wide receiver Makai Lemon is declaring for the NFL draft, forgoing his remaining year of eligibility. The Biletnikoff award winner announced his decision in a social media post Wednesday afternoon. “USC will forever hold a special place in my heart,” he wrote in the post. “I’m a Los Angeles native, and the opportunity to play this game in the city that raised me was something long before it became a reality.” View this post on Instagra…

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NFLTradeRumors.co broke the news in on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
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