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Makai Lemon has patterned his game after Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The 2026 NFL Draft is now officially less than two months away, and the next wave of talent will soon be making their debuts for their new respective teams, hoping to elevate them back into either championship contention or from the standings basement.
One player who is expected to be one of the top selections in the Draft is USC wideout Makai Lemon, who was the 2025 recipient of the The Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top wide receiver in college football, and was just the second player in school history to take home the award.
During the 2026 NFL Combine, Lemon was asked which current NFL player that he patterns his own game after, and his response was that of another player who also starred at USC and now thrills fans of the Detroit Lions on a weekly basis.
“Amon-Ra St. Brown,” he answered without hesitation. “The type of grit he plays with. The way he can have a positive impact on the team without the ball in his hands.”
One of the top receivers in the game today, St. Brown is one of the driving forces behind the Lions’ offensive attack, and Lemon hopes to become the same kind of weapon for whomever is fortunate enough to be in position to call his name in April.
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Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown Also Attended USC
St. Brown, whom the Lions selected in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft, also played collegiately at USC.
During his time with the Trojans, St. Brown amassed a total of 2,270 receiving yards on 178 receptions with 16 touchdowns, along with 69 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
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Makai Lemon Is Expected To Go In The First Round Of The 2026 NFL Draft In April
In his recent prospect rankings list, NFL Insider Mel Kiper made it clear that he has high regard for Lemon and would want him on his roster if he were in charge of a team.
“This kid is a warrior who plays with passion,” he said. “I’d want Lemon on my roster. He snatches the ball away from his body in an attacking manner then runs with a fierce approach after the catch. He is one of my favorite players in the class, and he ranked third in the nation in receiving yards per game in 2025.”
His official Draft scouting profile also holds him in high regard.
“High-skill, high-volume slot receiver with average size but extraordinary ball skills,” wrote NFL Draft Insider Lance Zierlein. “Lemon has room for refinement, but not much. He’s intelligent, confident and polished with the ability to make plays on all three levels. Tempo-driven route-runner who misdirects man coverage and separates out of turns but is fairly average after the catch. Quicker than fast, featuring early acceleration to open seam throws but flashes late burst when needed. More play strength is needed for NFL press and he needs to avoid rushing through multi-breaking routes. He’s an exceptional ball-tracker with excellent catch timing and few focus drops. He wins more combat catches than he loses. Lemon is a plug-and-play, quarterback-friendly talent with first-round value and Pro Bowl upside.”
The 2026 NFL Draft officially kicks off on April 23.
Michael Whitaker Michael Whitaker is a sports journalist based in metro Detroit with nearly a full decade of experience with publications like Clutch Points and The Hockey News. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Eastern Michigan University. More about Michael Whitaker
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