Re-Ranking of USC's Makai Lemon in His High School Recruiting Class

USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon is coming off an incredible 2025 season and is projected to be a early selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Where is Lemon ranked among the rest of his 2023 high school recruiting class in a class re-ranking?

Jul 24, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; USC wide receiver Makai Lemon speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon is coming off an incredible 2025 season in which he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award for being the best receiver in the country. Coming out of high school as a member of the 2023 recruiting class, Lemon was ranked as one of the top wideouts in the country. He still managed to exceed expectations at the next level. 

Makai Lemon Outperforms Expecations

Dec 27, 2023; San Diego, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley (right) celebrates with wide receiver Makai Lemon (24) after the Holiday Bowl against the Louisville Cardinals at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

To this point in his career, Lemon has outperformed his ranking including his ESPN 300 recruiting ranking when he came out of high school. Lemon was ranked as the No. 13 player per these rankings. ESPN revisited their top 10 from 2023 this week, and re-ranked them. They slotted Lemon at No. 10.

New for ESPN we reranked the 2023 ESPN 300 👀

13 of the top 25 prospects are on Mel Kiper’s 2026 NFL Draft Big Board.

Full ranking: https://t.co/d7GYLbhHPd pic.twitter.com/aCK2Mng6Iz

— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) February 12, 2026

The No. 1 player in the initial rankings in 2023 had USC signee, quarterback Malachi Nelson No. 1. Nelson was at USC for just one season in 2023 and appeared in just one game. He ended up transferring to the Boise State Broncos that following offseason. 

Nelson has since transferred two more times from Boise State to the UTEP Miners and now to the Syracuse Orange. His career stats are 1,291 passing yards with eight passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Nelson’s collegiate career has not panned out the way these rankings expected it to. 

The No. 1 player in these re-rankings is Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore. Moore was No. 2 in the original rankings so it’s not a massive jump. 2025 was a big season for Moore as he finally was able to show why he was though of so highly out of high school. The former five-star recruit helped lead Oregon to the College Football Playoff semifinal. He could have been a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but decided to return to school for one more season to polish his skills. 

Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) walks off the field after the game against the Southern California Trojans at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Makai Lemon on the other hand will be entering the 2026 NFL Draft and is the No. 11 overall prospect on ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s 2026 big board. 

“This kid is a warrior who plays with passion. I’d want Lemon on my roster,” Kiper said in his most recent update. “He snatches the ball away from his body in an attacking manner then runs with fierce approach after the catch. He is one of my favorite players in the class.”

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Lemon's Biletnikoff Winning 2025 Season

Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) celebrates after catching a 32-yard touchdown pass against the UCLA Bruins in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Makai Lemon signed with the USC Trojans as a four-star class of 2023 wide receiver in 2023. Lemon was ranked as the No. 50 overall player in his class and No. 9 wide receiver per 247Sports. Lemon played three seasons with the Trojans from 2023-2025. He totaled 137 receptions for 2,008 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. 

Lemon had a breakout 2025 season for USC. He had 79 receptions for 1,156 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. Lemon was top 12 in the country in all three of these categories, which propelled him to winning the Biletnikoff Award, being named a Unanimous All-American, and First-team All-Big Ten.