Makai Lemon leads batch of Trojans invited to 2026 NFL combine

Of the 319 prospects that were invited to the NFL scouting combine, the USC Trojans will have seven players in attendance. It's a big step in the right direction for getting drafted. This will be a great chance for many of these talented alumni to prove they are worthy of playing for an NFL franchise. Makai Lemon is the Trojan with the most eyes on him, but other Trojans could get drafted even earlier than expected after the combine.

Here are the USC Trojans who will be at the NFL draft scouting combine:

Wide receiver- Makai Lemon

Lemon, at the very least, feels like a guarantee to be selected in the first round. He will have many eyes on him heading into the combine. A great performance and good times could take him from being at least a top 20 pick to being taken in the first ten picks instead. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award last season with a great junior season, but a great combine showing will really prove that he is the best receiver in this draft class.

Wide receiver- Ja'Kobi Lane

There was many points in the season where Lane looked just as good as Makai Lemon. He is a 50/50 elite ball catcher. Many times last season Jayden Maiava just threw it up to Lane and he made Maiava look right more often than not. His athleticism is like no other in this draft class. He is one of the more underrated players in this draft class and he has a great opportunity in front of him to be a riser heading into the draft after this combine. If Lane can show his speed and his athletims he could very well creep into the 2nd-3rd round in the draft.

Tight end- Lake McRee

Lake Mcree is a do-it-all tight end, and in his tenure with the Trojans, he was a super reliable target. He can make the big plays happen, and he can also make a very critical block to open up a big play in the run game. He would be an asset on many teams in the NFL. I think he will further prove his worth with a great showing at the combine.

Edge- Anthony Lucas

Lucas has the size, and he was pretty serviceable for the Trojans' defensive line this season. Lucas had 37 tackles and 3.5 sacks this past season. Lucas might be the one player from this batch of Trojans who would benefit the most from having a great showing at the combine.

Linebacker- Eric Gentry

Eric Gentry is one of the more intriguing prospects in this entire draft class. Many will ultimately want him to put on weight, but he would be a gem for a great defensive mind to work with in the NFL. Gentry stands at 6′ 6″ and weighs about 225 lbs. His height alone makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, but he is a super-talented defensive stud. In the right hands, he could become a building block on defense.

Safety- Bishop Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald had another great collegiate season, and in just one season for the Trojans, he became a leader on the defense. He is one of the highest graded safeties from this past season. He is a ball-hawking safety who can fly around the ball and make key tackles. He can end up being a day 2 or day 3 steal for a franchise come draft time.

Safety- Kamari Ramsey

Kamari Ramseys has been an interesting player to project where he will end up in the draft. He will either end up falling in the draft or he could go as early as the second round. This season was a down year for him, but in 2024, he was one of the best safeties in the country. A great combine showing will help give more clarity about his draft stock.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Makai Lemon could become a top NFL draft pick with big combine