Wide receiver Makai Lemon #6 of the USC Trojans scores a touchdown during an NCAA football game against the Northwestern Wildcats, Friday November 7, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.Adrian MedinaTue, November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM UTC·1 min readLOS ANGELES – USC junior wide receiver Makai Lemon has been named one of three finalists for the 2025 Biletnikoff Award, presented to college football's outstanding receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. Lemon, an All-American candidate, is also a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award.
Per PFF, Lemon is the highest graded wide receiver in college football, holding an overall grade of 90.6 and the nation’s top receiving grade of 91.6.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLemon leads the Power Four in receiving yards (1,124), receiving yards per game (102.2), and first downs by a receiver (49). He also leads the Big Ten in receiving TDs (10) and receptions per game (7.09) and yards after catch (502). Lemon is second in the Power Four with 18 receptions of 20+ yards.
This season, Lemon has scored 10 receiving TDs, 2 rushing TDs, and thrown a passing TD. He has five 100-yard receiving games this season and seven in his career. He has been in double digits in receptions 3 times in 2025. In his career, he’s recorded 136 receptions for 1,976 yards (14.5 avg.) with 13 TDs, and he currently ranks 22nd on USC’s career receptions list.
Lemon is looking to be USC's second winner of the Biletnikoff Award, joining Marqise Lee, the 2012 recipient. The Trojans have also had 5 other finalists for the award: Keyshawn Johnson in 1995, Mike Williams in 2003, Dwayne Jarrett in 2005, Robert Woods in 2011, and Michael Pittman Jr. in 2019.
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