A Clear Wide Receiver #1 Has Emerged For The USC Trojans

The USC Trojans haven’t had a true #1 receiver since Jordan Addison in 2021. Last season, Brenden Rice And Tahj Washington had their moments, and Caleb Williams leaned on Washington in critical moments, but there was not a clear-cut #1.

Coming into this season, that was one of the questions surrounding the receiving corps.

Kyron Hudson returned as the elder statesman, but the featured playmakers would be a quartet of sophomores.

While the coaching staff has said that Hudson is the clear leader of the group, after eight games of play, it is becoming clear who is seizing the identity of WR1, and the trust of Miller Moss in critical moments.

Makai Lemon Starting To Look Like WR1 For USC Trojans

NCAA Football: Rutgers at Southern California | USC Trojans WR Makai Lemon
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

While Ja’Kobi Lane and Duce Robinson have had some marquee moments, and signature games, the role of the lead man seemingly belongs to Makai Lemon.

Lemon leads the team in receiving this season with 378 yards, and that is including being knocked out of the Michigan game early and missing the following week against Wisconsin.

However, it is the last three games that is most telling. He has been the leading receiver in all three contests and has been the most reliable.

Against Rutgers, not only did he turn four catches into 134 yards and a touchdown, but it was in critical moments.

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At the start of the 3rd quarter, Rutgers was able to cut into USC’s lead after a nice drive resulting in a touchdown and a converted two-point conversion. With the score now 28-20, you could feel the sentiment of the stadium go “Here we go again.”

On the first offensive play for the Trojans, Lemon took an intermediate crosser for 70 yards, setting up another USC Trojans touchdown.

101 of Lemon’s 134 yards came after the catch.

After the game, head coach Lincoln Riley talked about his sophomore receiver.

I don’t know if he’s great at anything, yet, but he’s really good at a lot of things. He’s got a lot of room to grow as a player, but with his skill set, there aren’t a ton of things where you say, well he just can’t do that. He’s a very versatile receiver…and he’s just gonna continue to grow as a player.

This is an extremely talented room that will continue to grow together. There will still be games where each receiver will have their moments and may even swap games leading the group.

But based on situation, and Moss’s confidence and trust, through 8 games it looks like Makai Lemon is seizing the title of WR1.