After Dominating Iowa, USC WR Makai Lemon Sets Sights on Oregon Defense
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has faced many top-tier college players in his 27 seasons, including Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, and Braylon Edwards. But none of them left an impact like Southern California’s Makai Lemon.
Ferentz, who’s coached over 330 games, called Lemon one of the best players he’s ever seen. “He’s as good as I’ve seen. I don’t know if anybody’s impacted the game more in 20-plus years,” Ferentz said. The reason for such praise? Lemon’s dominant 153-yard performance on 10 receptions and a touchdown in USC’s 26-21 win over Iowa.
At just 5-foot-11, Lemon may not have the physical stature of other top receivers, but he compensates with fearless play. USC head coach Lincoln Riley describes him as “a fearless player” with a relentless drive.
Lemon’s Development and Strength Gain
After two seasons of steady progress, Lemon focused on adding strength during the offseason. USC’s new strength coach, Trumain Carroll, helped the team build muscle, and Lemon added five pounds of muscle to feel stronger and more explosive. “This is a man’s game, so you got to put on some man strength,” he said.
The hard work paid off: Lemon has totaled 1,090 receiving yards this season, the most in the Power Five and third-most in the entire FBS. He’s been a consistent performer, with five games surpassing 125 receiving yards and earning a spot as a semifinalist for the prestigious Biletnikoff Award, given to the best receiver in college football.
What makes Lemon special is his versatility. Whether he’s lined up wide, in the slot, or behind the quarterback, he makes plays everywhere on the field. Despite his size, he’s excellent at leaping to catch passes over defenders, and when he’s not catching sensational passes, he’s making defenders miss and gaining valuable yards after the catch. Of his 1,090 yards, 467 have come after the catch, leading the Big Ten in that category.
Lemon vs. the Best Defenses
Lemon has proven hard to stop, even against elite defenses. In the past three weeks, USC has faced teams with some of the toughest passing defenses: Nebraska (No. 3), Northwestern (No. 31), and Iowa (No. 6). While Nebraska kept him to just 14 yards on two catches, Lemon bounced back with 21 catches for 314 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games.
Now, USC faces its next big challenge: Oregon, which boasts the nation’s top passing defense, allowing only 127.3 yards per game. Only Montana State’s Taco Dowler and Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt have managed to break 100 yards against Oregon’s secondary.
Despite the challenge, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning knows stopping Lemon won’t be easy. “He’s a tough matchup,” Lanning said. “The fact that they move him around certainly makes it a challenge.”
Lemon is not one to seek attention, letting his play speak for itself. If he can continue his dominant form against Oregon, he could help USC return to national prominence.
“It’s gonna be a fun one on Saturday,” Lemon said. “Another game to show what we do on the field.”
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