Makai Lemon
Lemon in 2025
Philadelphia Eagles
Position Wide receiver
Roster status Unsigned draft pick
Personal information
Born (2004-06-02) June 2, 2004 (age 21)
Listed height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight 192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, California)
College USC (2023–2025)
NFL draft 2026: 1st round, 20th overall
Career history
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2026–present)
Awards and highlights
  • Fred Biletnikoff Award (2025)
  • Unanimous All-American (2025)
  • Polynesian College Football Player of the Year (2025)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Makai Lemon (born June 2, 2004) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, winning the 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award, and was selected by the Eagles in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

Early life

Lemon was born on June 2, 2004, and grew up in Los Alamitos, California.[1][2] He grew up playing football as a wide receiver and was close friends with quarterback Malachi Nelson, with them playing for the same Pop Warner team and winning a national championship.[3] He initially attended La Mirada High School, where he caught 57 receptions for 784 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman, in addition to four interceptions as a defensive back on defense.[4] He received his first scholarship offer from the Colorado Buffaloes during the first month of his freshman season.[5]

After his freshman season, Lemon transferred to Los Alamitos High School as a sophomore, where he joined Malachi Nelson.[3] In the spring 2021 season, he caught 43 passes for 756 yards and nine touchdowns, being named first-team all-state by MaxPreps.[6] He then recorded 65 receptions for 1,062 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior in 2021.[7] He was named first-team junior All-American and first-team all-state by MaxPreps.[6] As a senior, he was named first-team All-American and first-team all state after totaling 69 receptions for 1,044 yards and 12 touchdowns.[6]

Lemon was an Under Armour All-American and an invitee to the Polynesian Bowl.[6] He was ranked a five-star recruit and the 13th-best player nationally by ESPN.[8] He initially committed to play college football for the Oklahoma Sooners along with Malachi Nelson.[9] However, he later flipped his commitment along with Nelson to the USC Trojans, after coach Lincoln Riley left the Sooners for the Trojans.[10]

College career

As a freshman at USC in 2023, Lemon saw limited playing time and caught six passes for 88 yards.[11] Towards the end of the season, he played at cornerback as well as wide receiver due to injuries to the Trojans' players.[12] In 2024, Lemon had a breakout game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, totaling 256 all-purpose yards while scoring a touchdown.[13] He saw more action as the 2024 season went on and finished as USC's leading receiver with 52 receptions for 764 yards.[14]

Lemon was the recipient of the 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award, surpassing fellow finalists Skyler Bell of UConn and Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State. He is the second Biletnikoff winner in USC football history, following Marqise Lee in 2012.[15] On December 17, 2025, Lemon declared for the 2026 NFL draft.[16]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Wingspan 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split
5 ft 11+1⁄8 in
(1.81 m)		 192 lb
(87 kg)		 30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		 8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		 6 ft 1+1⁄4 in
(1.86 m)		 4.53 s 1.59 s 2.64 s
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[17][18]

Lemon was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round, with the 20th overall pick, of the 2026 NFL draft.[19] He was on the phone with Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan, who planned to draft him with the 21st overall pick, when Philadelphia called to tell him they jumped up to take him at pick 20.[20]

Career statistics

College

Legend
Bold Career high
Season Team Games Receiving Rushing
GP GS Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD
2023 USC 9 0 6 88 14.7 0 — — — —
2024 USC 12 6 52 764 14.7 3 — — — —
2025 USC 12 11 79 1,156 14.6 11 9 4 0.4 2
Career 33 17 137 2,008 14.7 14 9 4 0.4 2

Personal life

Lemon's family has Native Hawaiian roots.[21] He was named the Polynesian Football Player of the Year for 2025.

References

  1. ^ "Makai Lemon Wide Receiver USC". nfldraftbuzz.com. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  2. ^ "Makai Lemon". ESPN.
  3. ^ a b Albano, Dan (May 5, 2020). "La Mirada freshman Makai Lemon among three, key football transfers at Los Alamitos". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 1, 2025 – via archive.ph.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ^ Hoover, John E. (February 16, 2021). "With an offer to ATH Makai Lemon, Lincoln Riley is in pursuit of elite QB/WR teammates". Sports Illustrated.
  5. ^ Guerriero, Justin (September 29, 2019). "Buffs issue first Class of 2023 offer to WR/CB Makai Lemon". Rivals.com.
  6. ^ a b c d "Makai Lemon". USC Trojans.
  7. ^ Grosbard, Adam (December 3, 2021). "5-star Los Alamitos WR Makai Lemon commits to USC". Orange County Register.
  8. ^ James, Donovan (December 22, 2022). "5-star WR Makai Lemon: outstanding individually, even better as part of a dynamic duo". USA Today – via Yahoo Sports.
  9. ^ Davis, John (September 16, 2021). "Malachi Nelson and Makai Lemon are lifelong friends, a dynamic duo on the field and Oklahoma commits". Press-Telegram.
  10. ^ Morales, Antonio (December 3, 2021). "Makai Lemon, 5-star 2023 athlete, becomes third former OU commit to follow Lincoln Riley to USC". The Athletic.
  11. ^ Hollowell, Kendall (October 16, 2024). "Why USC Trojans Receiver Makai Lemon Will Emerge As Breakout Player". Sports Illustrated.
  12. ^ Evans, Luca (October 26, 2024). "Wide receiver Makai Lemon has made himself key to USC's future". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 1, 2025 – via archive.ph.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ^ Kartje, Ryan (October 28, 2024). "The Times of Troy: The big-play receiver USC needed was there all along: Makai Lemon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 1, 2025 – via archive.ph.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ Hollowell, Kendall (January 30, 2025). "Best Big Ten Receivers Ranked: Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Oregon's Dakorien Moore, USC's Makai Lemon". Sports Illustrated.
  15. ^ Morrissette, Connor (December 12, 2025). "USC wide receiver Makai Lemon wins Biletnikoff Award". Sports Illustrated.
  16. ^ "USC wideout Makai Lemon declares for NFL draft". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 18, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  17. ^ "Makai Lemon Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  18. ^ "Makai Lemon College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  19. ^ McVeigh, Griffin (April 23, 2026). "Philadelphia Eagles select Makai Lemon in first round of 2026 NFL Draft". On3.com.
  20. ^ Baer, Jack (April 23, 2026). "Watch the moment Makai Lemon learns the Eagles are surprisingly drafting him — while he is on the phone with the Steelers". sports.yahoo.com.
  21. ^ Brugler, Dane. "Makai Lemon - The Beast 2026". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 23, 2026.