With the NFL Combine in full swing and the NFL Draft quickly approaching, scouts, executives, and fans across the league are beginning to learn more about this year’s top prospects. Notably, during the interview process, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon offered an intriguing response when asked who he compares himself to in the NFL.
Makai Lemon Reveals the Superstar WR He Models His Game After
On Friday morning, in the midst of the combine process, Lemon met with league journalists to discuss his style of play, expectations for the NFL, and all things football-related. One question stood out when an interviewer asked, “Who’s one NFL player you model your game after or look up to?”
Lemon didn’t hesitate, stating, “Amon-Ra St. Brown. The type of grit he plays with. The way he can have a positive impact on the team without the ball in his hands.”
The response was encouraging and, simply put, it makes sense. Lemon and St. Brown each spent three seasons at USC, operating as alpha receivers in the Trojans’ offense. Across 33 appearances with the Trojans, Lemon recorded 137 receptions, 2,008 receiving yards, and 16 total touchdowns.
As for the $120.1 All-Pro WR, St. Brown hauled in 178 catches for 2,270 yards and found the endzone 17 times during his career at USC. Their measurables are nearly identical as well. Lemon stands 5’11, 195 pounds, while St. Brown is 6’0, 202 pounds.
When evaluating their skills and on-field tape, the parallels become even more evident. In PFSN’s latest 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft, analyst Jacob Infante described Lemon as a “sure-handed slot receiver who’s quick after the catch and consistently gets open against both man and zone coverage with sharp breaks and good leverage work through his stems.”
St. Brown, the fifth-ranked WR according to PFSN’s WR Impact metric in 2025, operated primarily out of the slot and consistently dominated in that role. As Infante noted with Lemon, “sure-handed”, “quick after the catch,” and getting open against “both man and zone coverage” are attributes that St. Brown excels at on the pro level.
Meanwhile, Lemon, the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner and PFSN’s fourth-ranked wideout per PFSN’s CFB WR Impact metric, currently projects to be drafted by the Steelers at pick No. 21, according to Infante’s mock draft.
The analyst added that Pittsburgh needs an explosive weapon and a reliable wide receiver to pair with DK Metcalf. If Lemon’s skill set translates to the NFL, Pittsburgh could get exactly what they’re looking for, and potentially the next superstar receiver.
