USC Wide Receiver Makai Lemon Named Maxwell Award Semifinalist

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USC Wide Receiver Makai Lemon Named Maxwell Award Semifinalist
#6 Makai Lemon of USC in action during an NCAA football game against Michigan State, September 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
#6 Makai Lemon of USC in action during an NCAA football game against Michigan State, September 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.

LOS ANGELES, CA — USC wide receiver Makai Lemon has been selected as a Maxwell Award semifinalist. The Maxwell Award is presented to the College Player of the Year and is one of 13 semifinalists for the award. 

Semifinalist voting for both collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Monday, Nov. 17, and will close on Nov. 24. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 27, and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors, and selected national media. All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order by school, with the player's school, position, and class designated.

The winners of both the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 11, 2025. The formal presentations of the awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Lemon earned placement on the AP All-American Midseason First Team, Sporting News Midseason All-American First Team, CBS Midseason All-American First Team, The Athletic Midseason All-American First Team, and Sports Illustrated Midseason All-American First Team. 

Additionally, Lemon is one of USC's most versatile players, scoring 2 rushing TDs, as well as tallying 7 kickoff returns for 144 yards and 4 punt returns for 32 yards. He ranks No. 11 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards with 123.89. 

Lemon's elite route-running and yards-after-catch ability translate to inevitable impact every week as the nation's most electric receiver. He's the third-most productive pass catcher in the country, first in the Big Ten, averaging 104.1 receiving yards per game, is second in the Big Ten in receptions per game, 6.78, and has 7 receiving TDs on the season. He leads the Trojans with 61 receptions for 937 yards, which is third best in the nation and first in the Big Ten.

 

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