BREAKING: Makai Lemon Selected by Philadelphia Eagles with No. 20 Pick in First Round of 2026 NFL Draft

USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon heard his name called on Thursday night, selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

A unanimous First Team All-American and the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top FBS receiver, Lemon becomes USC’s 534th all-time NFL draftee. The Trojans now trail only Notre Dame (539) for the most in college football history. He is also the program’s 87th first-round selection, second only to Ohio State.

Lemon is the 14th USC wide receiver drafted since 2010, the eighth in the first three rounds, and the fourth in the first round during that span. He is the first Trojan picked by the Eagles since defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu in the sixth round (189th overall) of the 2021 Draft.

A Historic Season and Dominant Career at USC

Lemon capped an electric three-year career (2023-25) in Cardinal and Gold with a breakout 2025 season that left no doubt about his status as one of the best receivers in the country. The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year earned unanimous First Team All-American honors (Walter Camp, FWAA, AP, AFCA, Sporting News) — USC’s first unanimous All-American since Caleb Williams and Tuli Tuipulotu in 2022, and the first unanimous WR since Marqise Lee in 2012.

Additional accolades included On3, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, PFF, and Pro Football Sports Network All-American nods, plus All-Big Ten First Team honors.

Career Stats (2023-25):

• 137 receptions for 2,008 yards (14.7 avg.) in 33 games (17 starts)
• Ranks 22nd on USC’s all-time receptions list
• 27 kickoff returns for 752 yards (27.9 avg., long 80)
• 6 punt returns for 71 yards (11.8 avg., long 35)
• 2-of-2 passing for 63 yards and 1 TD
• 1 tackle

In 2025 alone, Lemon dominated. Per PFF, he posted the highest overall grade among college wide receivers (90.4) and the top receiving grade (91.3). He led the Power Four in receiving yards (1,156) and yards per game (96.3), paced the Big Ten in receptions per game (6.6) and yards after catch (502), and tied for the most receiving touchdowns (11). He added 2 rushing TDs and a passing TD, becoming the first Big Ten player since 2009 to catch two TDs and throw one in the same game (vs. Oregon).

Lemon recorded five 100-yard receiving games in 2025 (seven for his career) and hit double-digit receptions three times. He was a Senior Bowl invitee and NFL Combine participant.

As a sophomore in 2024, he led USC with 52 catches for 764 yards and 3 TDs while excelling on special teams (19 kickoff returns for 514 yards, ranked top-6 nationally). In 2023, the early enrollee contributed on both sides of the ball as a true freshman.

USC Draft Legacy Continues

The selection further burnishes USC’s unparalleled NFL Draft pedigree. The Trojans are the only program with a draftee in every NFL Draft since 1939 and own the longest active streak with a player selected in the top three rounds (25 years). They also lead the common draft era (since 1967) with 368 picks.

Lemon joins a long line of legendary USC receivers who made an immediate impact at the next level, stepping into a Philadelphia Eagles offense that values versatile, explosive playmakers.

“THEY GETTING A DAWG!” — Lemon’s excitement was evident as he celebrated the pick.

The 2026 NFL Draft continues Friday with Rounds 2-3 and concludes Saturday with Rounds 4-7. For USC fans, Thursday night marked another proud moment in a program rich with professional talent. Makai Lemon is now officially on to the next chapter — and the Eagles just added one of the most dynamic, decorated receivers in recent college football history.