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USC Wide Receiver Makai Lemon Added to Maxwell Award Watch List
October 23, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES—USC wide receiver Makai Lemon has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, today (Oct. 23). The Maxwell Award is presented to the College Player of the Year.Â
Lemon recently 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.Â
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 second-most productive pass catcher in the country, averaging 108.3 receiving yards per game, is second in the Big Ten in receptions per game (6.86) and has 6 receiving TDs on the season. He leads the Trojans with 48 receptions for 758 yards (15.8 avg.), which is second best in the nation and first in the Big Ten.Â
Additionally, Lemon is one of USC's most versatile players, and has scored 1 rushing TD, as well as tallied 7 kickoff returns for 144 yards (20.8 avg.) and 4 punt returns for 32 yards (8.0 avg.). He ranks No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (133.14).Â
The three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled on November 25, 2025. 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.
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Lemon recently 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.Â
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 second-most productive pass catcher in the country, averaging 108.3 receiving yards per game, is second in the Big Ten in receptions per game (6.86) and has 6 receiving TDs on the season. He leads the Trojans with 48 receptions for 758 yards (15.8 avg.), which is second best in the nation and first in the Big Ten.Â
Additionally, Lemon is one of USC's most versatile players, and has scored 1 rushing TD, as well as tallied 7 kickoff returns for 144 yards (20.8 avg.) and 4 punt returns for 32 yards (8.0 avg.). He ranks No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (133.14).Â
The three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled on November 25, 2025. 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.
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