Growing up in SoCal, Makai Lemon had one vision: to rock the Cardinal and Gold for the USC Trojans football team in front of friends and family. As the dream manifested, he is now set to take off to the pros. While leveling up, he is now seeking advice from a $120 million Detroit Lions star. 

“I talked to him a few times for sure,” said Lemon on the NFL on NBC interview when the host pointed out how he and former USC player Amon Ra St. Brown both look similar and asked whether he talked to him. “He’s just telling me encouraging words. I can’t wait to sit down with him and pick his brain about the next level and the things to do. But he’s always encouraged me to keep doing what I’m doing and just to be myself.”

This narrative has been going on for quite a long time about how Lemon could be the next St. Brown.

In college, both tipped the scales at 195, but size-wise, there’s a slight difference. St. Brown is a couple of inches taller at 6’1”, while Lemon checked in at 5’11”. But keeping the measurements aside, Lemon did prove himself in Lincoln Riley’s camp. 

That’s what made St. Brown advise his junior that he is on the right track and should continue doing what he is doing now. The Lions’ wide receiver, despite playing in a shortened 2020 campaign, still made it count. The junior wideout started all six contests and led the team with 41 receptions and 478 yards, plus a team-best seven touchdowns. So, he might be seeing his shadow within Lemon.

Lemon’s journey to being one of the best wide receiver prospects in the draft was not an easy one. He saw limited playing time as a freshman in 2023 and caught six passes for 88 yards. He even played at cornerback due to injuries to the roster. His breakout game finally came in his second year at USC when he played against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Lemon had 256 all-purpose yards with a touchdown.

As for versatility, Lemon wore it like a badge in 2024. Across 12 games and six starts, he became Riley’s do-it-all weapon. He hauled in a team-best 52 receptions. Besides, he led the charge with 764 yards at nearly 14.7 per catch, plus three trips to the end zone. But it was 2025 that cemented his status as one of the best. Lemon had 1,156 yards for 11 touchdowns and took home the 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award, beating fellow finalists Skyler Bell of UConn and even superstar Jeremiah Smith out of Ohio State. He is the second Biletnikoff winner in USC football history, following Marqise Lee in 2012.

“Overall, Lemon is going to draw a lot of comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown, and they are warranted,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said.

The analyst ranked him as the No. 10 overall prospect for the NFL Combine. This is very different from St. Brown whose fall in his draft is a popular narrative around the league. He was picked 112th overall in the fourth round. Something the wide receiver has publicly stated as a motivation factor for him to continue playing as if he has something still left to prove. While Makai Lemon is still waiting to see which NFL city calls his name, he’s already won hearts with his NFL Combine interview. 

Makai Lemon’s NFL Combine interview hits millions of views

When it comes to leaving his mark in the NFL Combine with his athletic skills, Lemon left no stone unturned. With Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson right on his heels in the WR1 conversation, the Trojans’ wide receiver could have played it safe. But he did not do that. Instead, he trusted his sharp route-running and 50-50 ball supremacy in front of the 32 NFL suitors.

In PFSN’s latest seven-round 2026 NFL mock draft, Lemon is projected to land at No. 21 overall with the Pittsburgh Steelers. At the same time, the New York Giants also stand a chance to land Lemon. Amid all the draft buzz, on February 27, 2026, Lemon hit the media ahead of his Combine position drills. That’s when he was asked about his role model, and his answer made the video an instant viral hit.

“I’d probably say Amon-Ra St. Brown,” shared Lemon. “The type of grit he plays with, the way he can have a positive impact on the team without the ball in his hands.”

Within a day, the video posted by content creator Bryce DeGroat already got 9.9 million views on X. Lemon has already tagged St. Brown as his guiding star. Now, can he carry that inspiration to the next level and make his idol proud?